Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda attended the 40th meeting of the Council for Gender Equality at the Prime Minister's Office.

Discussion took place on the report from the Specialist Committee on Basic Issues Gender Impact Assessment and Evaluation, each ministry's plan to enlarge the recruitment and the promotion of female officers, and related topics.

The Prime Minister said in his opening address, "It is 13 years since the enforcement of the Basic Act for Gender-Equal Society. In all aspects, including politicians, corporate managers, and researchers, Japan is still the furthest behind among the advanced countries in terms of women's social advancement.
We could also say that this means there is still a large room for women to demonstrate their abilities. In my policy speech in January, I emphasized that women hold the greatest potential to move Japan forward and positioned them as the foremost of Japan's new frontiers.
Building on the proposals of the Specialist Committee, I intend to implement concrete measures at an early date in order to produce visible results.
In light of the lessons learned from the last year's disaster, we had four female experts join the Central Disaster Prevention Council, which I regard as a small step forward. We have also revised the Basic Disaster Management Plan, specifying in detail what kinds of care should be taken at evacuation centers, such as setting up female-only changing rooms and nursing rooms.
Other countries are implementing bold and ambitious measures to expand the promotion of women. The Special Committee report also includes disclosing female promotion rates by company as a future issue for consideration. While continuing our steady efforts to enlarge the promotion of female national public servants, I would like to gather your wisdom in working toward concrete actions.
In particular, for women who work or want to work, the pressing issue is the materialization of the new system for children and child-rearing, toward which I would like to see the related legislations enacted at an early date."