EU Delegation holds a seminar focusing on participation of women in political decision-making to mark International Women’s Day 2024

The seminar kicked off with video messages from Ms Helena Dalli, EU Commissioner for Equality, and Ms Ayako Kato, State Minister on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment of Japan, where both speakers recalled the strong focus on gender equality and good cooperation under Japan’s G7 presidency in 2023, and expressed determination to continue working with international partners on women and girls’ empowerment in the social, economic and political life.

Discussions then took place around two panel sessions focusing on the quota system and women’s representation at the local assembly level. Japanese and European parliamentarians, ambassadors and experts engaged in lively discussions and on challenges and avenues of cooperation to achieve gender equality.

Closing the event, Mr. Jean-Eric Paquet, Ambassador of the European Union to Japan, said, “Better gender representation leads to better outcomes for the public and public policy. We need a society to push towards gender parity but it also requires leadership. We need leadership.”