Human Rights Watch (HRW) is calling upon Japan to halt its retaliatory actions against the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). This follows the committee’s guidance for Japan to amend its Imperial House Law, which restricts throne succession to male heirs only.
The CEDAW Committee’s recommendation seeks legal revisions to enable female heirs to inherit the throne. However, Japan’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Kitamura Toshihiro, contended that this male succession policy is not discrimination, arguing that it is not classified as a fundamental human right and is a longstanding tradition.
In an act of reprisal, Japan urged the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to refrain from allocating its voluntary financial contributions to CEDAW, which totalled over $490,000 as of February 2025. Moreover, Japan cancelled an upcoming visit from CEDAW committee members, suggesting heightened tensions between the government and the UN.
HRW advocates for an end to Japan’s hostility towards the UN, as such reactions could encourage other nations to challenge UN human rights initiatives. This sentiment is particularly relevant following the previous actions of the Trump administration, which included cutting foreign aid and pulling out from the UN Human Rights Council.
In addition to revising the Imperial House Law, CEDAW has other recommendations for Japan: adopting a system for married couples to choose separate surnames, lowering the financial barrier for women entering parliament, ensuring better access to emergency contraception, and removing the spousal consent requirement for abortion. The committee also calls for Japan to ratify the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, a commitment pending for nearly four decades, alongside ensuring gender balance in politics.
Human Rights Watch urged Japan to stop retaliating against the UN CEDAW following recommendations to amend laws for female succession to the throne. Japan defended its stance, claiming that male succession is not discriminatory. HRW highlighted broader recommendations from CEDAW, including gender parity in politics and legal reforms for women, urging Japan to align with UN guidelines for human rights progression.
The imperative call from HRW for Japan to cease its retaliatory stance against the CEDAW serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing battle for women’s rights. The recommendations put forth by the UN highlight critical areas for reform, from succession laws to broader gender equality measures. Japan stands at a crossroad, where it must decide whether to embrace these changes for the betterment of its society or continue down a path of resistance.
Original Source: www.jurist.org
