JAPAN and the WORLD Magazine JANUARY ISSUE 2016 #Issue 14 | Page 10

RUI MATSUKAWA
WOMEN EMPOWERMENT
WAW!舞台裏の女性達
THE WOMEN
BEHIND WAW!
GENDER EQUALITY ON THE MOVE
進む男女共同参画
Matsukawa-san, a wife and a mother, is a successful woman who actively
promotes and believes that women can shine all around the world.
松川さんは既婚者で２人の娘さんもいます。女性は世界中で輝くこと
ができるとの信念を持ち、その想いを広めることを目指しています。
Last year Japan hosted the second
WAW! in Tokyo. The number of
participants and speakers was
much larger than the year before.
Why in your opinion is there a need
to discuss women’s empowerment
issues on a global scale? Do women in
Japan experience similar challenges
to women in other countries given
different economic development,
culture, and history etc.?
First, let me introduce the WAW!. Held
on August 28 and 29 of last year featured
145 leaders in women’s issues from around
the world and 2,000 audience members
took part in the two days. The theme of last
year’s assembly was “WAW! For All–Various
Generations and Perspectives of Men and
Women Together”. The opening speech was
made by Prime Minister Abe, and keynote
speeches were made by Nobel Peace Prize
winner and the first popularly-elected female
president in Africa, President Sirleaf of
Liberia, as well as Ms. Marillyn Hewson, the
first career-track woman CEO of Lockheed
Martin, among others. Several High-Level
Round Table discussions were held on the
two themes: “Women and the Economy”
and “Global Challenges”, for global leaders to
discuss and make recommendations.
WAW! TO DO 2015
Please find the following link to read the
Summary Document:
Japanese Version:
www.mofa.go.jp/mofaj/files/000101261.pdf
English Version:
www.mofa.go.jp/mofaj/files/000101262.pdf
09 // JANUARY 2016
There are certainly different challenges for
women depending on the degree of a country’s
economic development, culture and religious
background, but the foundations are universal.
In other words, women are placed in difficult
circumstances, and when they exercise their
potential, it brings better conditions not only
for women but for the whole society.
WAW! makes contributions around the world,
but is also expanding various initiatives to
promote the activities of women in Japan.
WHAT IS DISCUSSED IN WAW! ?
Diversified stakeholders from governme nts,
international organizations, and private sector
discussed under two main themes “Women
and the Economy” and “Global Issues”. Many
ideas and proposals were created.
01
World leaders active in women’s issues share
information about the various challenges
facing women around the world, and look for
better solutions. Also, by bringing together
leaders that are struggling with similar
challenges, they can encourage each other and
develop new networks to activate their various
initiatives and help each other. Hence, WAW! is
not merely a symposium. WAW! takes action,
WAW! is a network, and WAW! is a movement.
Japan is attempting to change into a society where
women play a more active role through Prime
Minister Abe’s “Creating a Society in which All
Women Shine”. Japan’s greatest challenge is its
declining population due to aging and a low birth
rate. I have no doubt that in 5 years there will be
even more women active in various areas in our
society. Also, with respect to global challenges,
Japan has been involved in a variety of active efforts
through international cooperation. With WAW!
Japan will change, and will also stimulate further
changes in the world. That is my hope for WAW!
WAW! will certainly be held again this year. A
woman’s agenda will also be promoted at this
year’s G7 Summit in Ise-Shima. We hope that
this year’s WAW! will have synergy with the
Ise-Shima Summit.
02
Women and the Economy:
High-Level Round Tables on “Women and
the Economy” discuss the impact on the
economy through women’s empowerment.
Japan is putting in place a number of
reforms aimed at the growth strategy
of promoting the active participation of
women. We want to take advantage of a
great deal of wisdom from around the world
in these initiatives in Japan. The themes of
the tables were “Work-Life Management”,
“Engaging Men in Reforms” to discuss men
taking an active role in the empowerment
of women in consideration of last year’s
“WAW! for All” theme, and “Women
Facing Challenges” which discussed
the challenges faced by women, such as
challenges for single mothers and the issue
of maternity harassment, etc.
Global Issues:
High-Level Round Table on “Global
Issues” was held for discussions of
initiatives that need to be implemented
world-wide to address the challenges
faced by women. Issues such as;
importance of girls’ education for women’s
independence,
expanding
women’s
participation in peace building process,
and cooperating with business sector for
women’s empowerment, should be known
widely in the world to gather wisdom and
support which lead to resolution.
JAPAN AND THE WORLD MAGAZINE