TOKYO: Japanese Prime Minister KISHIDA Fumio said Saturday that women’s economic independence is a key part of the “new capitalism” initiative led by him, expressing his government’s resolve to continue working on the promotion of women’s empowerment.

In an address at the sixth conference of the World Assembly for Women, or WAW!, held in Tokyo by the Japanese government, Kishida also stressed the importance of reflecting women’s perspectives in government policies.

Elsewhere in the address, Kishida touched on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and said that numerous barbarous acts committed by Russian soldiers, including sexual violence against women, have been reported.

Then, the prime minister said, “Japan will give an eye to every woman in the world and work on protecting women’s rights and elevating their abilities” through the Japan International Cooperation Agency and the UN Women.

Kishida also said he will lead efforts to have more men get involved in gender-related actions.

The first WAW! conference was held in 2014 as part of the initiative of women’s empowerment led by the administration of then Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. The conference brings together female leaders in political, business and many other arenas from across the world for discussions on ways to allow women to play greater roles in society.

JIJI Press