Ms. AKIZUKI Hiroko, Councillor of the Kyoto Peacebuilding Center. Professor at Asia University and member of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women

Hiroko Akizuki explained that the main role of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women is to monitor the domestic implementation of the Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women by its State Parties and pointed out that recent global gender issues include an increase in conflict and sexual violence in conflict situations and a tendency of backlash/conservatism against progress in gender equality. She also pointed out the need for temporary special measures (such as introducing a quota system), especially in the political sphere to promote gender equality in Japan.