Statement by Ms. HAYASHI Tomoko Director-General, Gender Equality Bureau, Cabinet Office, Government of Japan The 65th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women Interactive Dialogue “Building back better : women's participation and leadership in COVID-19 response and recovery” March 18 9:00-11:00

● I am HAYASHI Tomoko, Director-General, Gender Equality Bureau, Cabinet Office, Government of Japan. Thank you for giving me such a valuable opportunity today.

● As elsewhere, Covid-19 has had a major and disproportionate impact on women in Japan. This reaffirms us the importance of gender equality. We have implemented measures strongly and steadily to overcome the present difficulties and foster reform.

● As Japan’s response and recovery from the gender perspectives, I would like to share 3 points: the Basic Policies for COVID-19, our COVID-19 Task Force and our new five-year plan for gender equality.

● Firstly, Japan has been pressing ahead with the economic and social policy package, the Basic Policies for COVID-19, decided by the Headquarters chaired by the Prime Minister. The Policies clearly take the impact on female employment into consideration and set out policies against domestic violence and sexual assault. The entire government is committed to addressing these issues.

● Secondly, Japan has organized a COVID-19 Task Force of experts to discuss issues and measures from a gender perspective. The Task Force submitted a set of urgent requests to the Minister for Gender Equality last November. The Minister asked the Prime Minister and the relevant ministers at meetings of the Headquarters to extend greater consideration and support to women.

● This has also been reflected in the government’s budget. For example, we started to provide new counseling services for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault through social media and around-the-clock phone service, and expanded one-stop support centers and shelters.

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● Last but not least, the Cabinet approved a new comprehensive five-year plan for gender equality. One of the most important aspects of this plan is a “new normal” of post-COVID-19.

● I believe it is important to regard this unprecedented “crisis” as our “opportunity” to build back better and to realize a more gender-equal society.

It was just ten years ago that we had a crisis of the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami in March, 2011. One of the lessons learned is that crisis response based on the gender perspectives is vital. Japan has applied this meaningful lessons for the Covid-19 response and recovery

● Japan will continue to make full-scale effort for all women and girls to thrive and achieve their full potential, so that no woman and girl facing hardships is left behind.

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