Act on Promotion of Gender Equality in the Political Field(Act No. 28 of 2018)
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  • April 25, 2019
    • Last Version:
    • Translated Date: August 8, 2018
    • Dictionary Version: 13.0

Act on Promotion of Gender Equality in the Political Field
Act No. 28 of May 23, 2018
(Purpose)
Article 1In view of the fact that it will be further important to secure opportunities for men and women, who are equal members of society, to jointly participate in planning and deciding policies of the State or local governments as those who assume positions of those in elected public offices or Minister of State, such as the Prime Minister, the Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary, Special Advisor to the Prime Minister, Senior Vice-Minister, Parliamentary Secretary or Special Advisor to the Minister, or vice-governor or vice-mayor of municipality (referred to as "those in elected public office, etc." in the following Article) (hereinafter referred to as "gender equality in the political field") in order to reflect diverse public opinion accurately in planning and deciding those policies, this Act aims to effectively and positively promote gender equality in the political field by laying out the fundamental principles and clarifying the responsibilities, etc. of the State and local governments in regard to the promotion of gender equality in the political field in line with the basic principles referred to in the Basic Act for Gender Equal Society (Act No. 78 of 1999) and providing fundamental matters for the policies on the promotion of gender equality in the political field, and thereby to contribute to the development of democratic politics in which both men and women jointly participate.
(Fundamental Principles)
Article 2(1)The promotion of gender equality in the political field is to be undertaken with the aim of making the numbers of male and female candidates as even as possible in the elections of the members of the House of Representatives, the House of Councillors, and the councils of local governments, while securing the freedom of political activity, such as the freedom of selection of candidates of political organizations such as political parties, or the freedom of candidacy of candidates.
(2)The promotion of gender equality in the political field must be conducted for the purpose of ensuring that men and women are able to fully display their individuality and ability regardless of their gender, through active provision and utilization of opportunities for exchange among persons who participate or intend to participate on their own will in activities as those in elected public office, etc. and in consideration of the impact of social systems or customary practices that reflect a stereotyped division of roles on the basis of gender, etc. on the promotion of gender equality in the political field.
(3)The promotion of gender equality in the political field must be conducted for the purpose of making it possible for men and women to realize the smooth and continuous balance of activities as those in elected public office, etc. and family lives through mutual cooperation and with social support, regardless of their gender.
(Responsibilities of the State and Local Governments)
Article 3The State and local governments are to endeavor to formulate necessary policies for the promotion of gender equality in the political field and to implement them while securing the freedom of political activity of political organizations such as political parties and the fairness of elections, pursuant to the fundamental principles on the promotion of gender equality in the political field as provided in the preceding Article (merely referred to as the "fundamental principles" in the following Article").
(Efforts of Political Organizations such as Political Parties)
Article 4Political organizations such as political parties are to endeavor to voluntarily work on the promotion of gender equality in the political field, including setting a goal for the number of male and female candidates for public office who belong to the political organizations such as the political parties, pursuant to the fundamental principles.
(Research on Actual Situation and Collection of Information)
Article 5(1)In order to contribute to efforts for the promotion of gender equality in the political field, the State is to conduct research on the actual situation of the status of relevant efforts in Japan and abroad, and to collect, organize, analyze and provide information about relevant efforts (referred to as the "research on the actual situation and collection of information, etc." in the following paragraph and Article 9).
(2)In order to contribute to efforts for the promotion of gender equality in the political field, local governments are to endeavor to conduct the research on the actual situation and collection of information, etc. at the local governments.
(Enlightenment Activity)
Article 6The State and local governments are to increase the citizens' interest in and understanding of the promotion of gender equality in the political field and to endeavor to undertake necessary public awareness activities.
(Development of Environment)
Article 7The State and local governments are to endeavor to develop an environment that enables the positive promotion of efforts for the promotion of gender equality in the political field.
(Development of Human Resources)
Article 8The State and local governments are to endeavor to implement policies that contribute to the development and utilization of human resources to ensure the promotion of gender equality in the political field.
(Legislative Measures)
Article 9Based on the results of the research on the actual situation and collection of information, etc., the State, when deeming it necessary, is to take measures necessary for the promotion of gender equality in the political field, such as legislative or financial measures.
Supplementary Provisions
This Act comes into effect as of the date of promulgation.