Women’s welfare priority in Japan development aid

TOKYO – Promoting women’s welfare remains among the top priorities of Japan in extending official development assistance (ODA) to developing nations, an official of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said here yesterday.

Takako Ito, director of the MOFA’s International Press Division, said the Japanese government is urging developing countries to propose projects for women that will be funded by its ODA in the next few years.

She said advancing women’s welfare in Japan and supporting such programs abroad are a priority of the government.

“We support women’s advancement. We have a very active membership in the CSW (Commission on the Status of Women). We are actively participating in debates regarding women in corporate leadership and peace and stability. We are working to have an action plan based on that,” Ito told visiting journalists here.

She said her government intends to give high priority to projects that improve women’s reproductive health and empower women economically.

“Human security is one of the important foreign policies that the Japanese government is promoting. Also, women’s rights and women in conflict are very important issues that we would like to deal with,” she said.

Ito said Japan is also increasing its contribution to the UN CSW.

At the United Nations General Assembly last year, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said his government will implement ODA in excess of $3 billion over the next three years, targeting projects that promote women’s participation in society, women’s health and medical care; and prevention and resolution of conflict as related to women around the world.