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On November 11, 2020, the Prime Minister attended the 61st meeting of the Council for Gender Equality at the Prime Minister’s Office.
 
At the meeting, a report was compiled on the basic approach to the formulation of the Fifth Basic Plan for Gender Equality.
 
After receiving the report from Mr. SATO Hiroki, Chairperson of the Council’s Specialist Committee, the Prime Minister said,
 
“I express my appreciation to Mr. Sato, Chairperson of the Council’s Specialist Committee, and all the other expert members, for compiling the Council’s basic position that will form the framework for the new Basic Plan for Gender Equality.
 
Women constitute 51 percent of Japan’s total population. It is essential to thoroughly incorporate their voices into our policies. In order to expand the participation of women in the policymaking process, we must reflect on the fact that progress has not been sufficiently made to date under the ongoing Basic Plan in this regard. It is necessary to advance various initiatives to increase the percentage of women in leadership positions to about 30 percent as early as possible in this decade, aiming at a society in which there is no gender imbalance in leadership roles toward expanding the participation of women in the policymaking process.
 
It is also necessary to create an environment that allows anyone to balance work and childcare, such as introducing a system that makes it easier for husbands to take childcare leave, and eradicate all forms of violence against women.
 
The novel coronavirus put women in particular in difficult situations. Despite such a circumstance, we must not let this momentum of female empowerment halt. I request each minister to advance reviews from a flexible view without being constrained by past precedents so as to make the new Plan aligned with the basic position. Also, I ask the Council’s members for your further cooperation towards the compilation of the new Plan before the end of this year.”