Japan Press Weekly

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2023 October 25 - 31 [SOCIAL ISSUES]

Fudanren celebrates 70th founding anniversary

The Japan Federation of Women’s Organizations (Fudanren) on October 28 held a gathering in Tokyo to commemorate the 70th anniversary of its founding, appealing for the need to realize a peaceful and gender equal Japan based on the post-war Constitution and the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).

Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo and JCP Vice Chair Kurabayashi Akiko, who is in charge of the party’s gender equality commission, attended the gathering.

Fudanren Chair Shibata Masko, delivering the opening speech, said that Fudanren since its founding has devoted itself to achieving gender equality and true peace in Japan. She noted that the CEDAW Committee will hold its session next year to review State Parties’ reports on their actions to improve women’s social standing. She expressed her determination to strengthen Fudanren’s efforts to realize gender equality in Japan.

Along with Maeda Yoshiko, a representative of the International Women’s Year Liaison Group, Japan, JCP Chair Shii spoke as a guest.

Shii pointed to Fudanren’s 70 years of dedication to pursing peace and gender equality, and said, “Without peace, it is impossible to secure women’s rights and gender equality. At the same time, unwavering efforts to achieve equality between men and women will become a big force for peace building.”

Shii emphasized the importance of an early ratification of the CEDAW Optional Protocol by Japan, and said that the JCP will work hard to achieve this.

Furthermore, Shii said that in recent years, he has witnessed major historic changes in the gender situation at home and abroad. He expressed his heartfelt hope for Fudanren’s further development to achieve society establishment of women’s rights.