“The Government of Japan, led by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is now stepping up efforts in promoting the Women, Peace, and Security agenda at the United Nations and in the field of international cooperation,” Kamikawa Yoko remarked at a Women, Peace and Leadership Symposium last September.
This was her first public speech as a Minister for Foreign Affairs. Since then, Kamikawa has indeed kept her promise, paving the way for Japan in advancing WPS-focused diplomacy. In the recent 2024 Global Women Leaders Summit, Kamikawa was introduced as a “global leader” in WPS.
Japan’s strengthened promotion of WPS, coupled with its unique expertise in disaster prevention and response, is unlocking new diplomatic opportunities. This enhanced promotion of WPS will not only position Japan as a pivotal player globally but also introduce potential to tackle related domestic challenges.
Since the adoption of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 in 2000, member states have recognized women’s influence in maintaining and promoting peace and security. As the first formal acknowledgement of the critical role women play in conflict prevention and resolution, Resolution 1325 called upon member states to increase female representation at all decision-making levels, incorporate gender perspectives into peace and security initiatives, and protect women against gender-based violence in armed conflicts. The Security Council then encouraged member states to develop National Action Plans to take tangible steps toward achieving the key pillars of the resolution.
Prime Minister Abe Shinzo made public Japan’s commitment to WPS and intention to craft a National Action Plan during his address at the UN General Assembly in 2013. At the time, Abe began pushing gender-focused policies domestically, with a key goal of creating a society where “all women can shine.” Japan had also began incorporating gender-perspective in its Official Development Assistance, such as through the introduction of “Gender and Development” plan in 2005.
Three iterations of National Action Plans have been implemented since then. From a donor state perspective, Japan outlined key goals of promoting women’s participation and gender perspective in peacebuilding, disaster risk reduction, and climate change. Additionally, it has prioritized strengthening the response to and prevention of sexual and gender-based violence in conflict zones. The 2016 Development Strategy for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment, further supplemented the National Action Plan by outlining specific development objectives. In 2022, Japan allocated $ 7.73 billion to ODA activities aimed at gender equality. The National Action Plans have also emphasized goals to promote WPS domestically, such as efforts to increase awareness on protection of women’s human rights to relevant ministries and agencies.
What truly differentiates Japan from other countries, however, is its knowledge of disaster response. Although the traditional WPS framework does not include disaster-related pillars, Japan has integrated gender perspectives in reconstruction and disaster risk reduction in its National Action Plans. For instance, the Japan International Cooperation Agency carries out training programs on “Gender and Diversity in Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change,” inviting policy practitioners and NGOs from aid recipient countries.
An uptake in Japan’s promotion of WPS was observed following the leadership of Kamikawa Yoko. As a longtime supporter of the initiative, Kamikawa made WPS a key pillar of her diplomatic engagements after assuming the role of Minister for Foreign Affairs last September. She previously served as the Minister of State for Gender Equality in 2007 and established the WPS Parliamentary League in 2022. According to Kamikawa, efforts by the parliamentary league led to Japan’s incorporation of WPS in the 2023 Economic and Fiscal Policy, as well as the establishment of focal point officers in various ministries to allow cross-national interactions with the counterparts abroad.
Within a year of becoming Minister for Foreign Affairs, Kamikawa launched various WPS initiatives. Examples include establishing a WPS taskforce in her ministry to induce a seamless intra-collaboration on the topic and founding a WPS network to support Ukraine’s recovery and reconstruction from a gender perspective. During her foreign visits, Kamikawa also frequently organizes policy forums to discuss next steps for WPS with key stakeholders around the world. She has mentioned WPS in two-thirds of speeches she has made thus far as a foreign minister.
Her efforts are echoed by Prime Minister Kishida Fumio. During his visit to the United States this past April, Kishida and U.S. president Joe Biden reaffirmed their commitment to promoting WPS in their joint statement.
Despite such progress, challenges remain for Japan in fully realizing the goals outlined in the UN resolution at home. One WPS expert commented that women’s “meaningful participation” in times of crisis can only be achieved when it is already present in peaceful times.
The 2024 Noto Earthquake is one such example. The persistent lack of female leadership in the municipal offices, especially in the Disaster Management Department, resulted in inadequate responses to women’s needs. Seeing the impact, Kishida pledged to address this issue in the upcoming basic plan for gender equality.
The 2024 Gender Gap Report, published by the World Economic Forum, also revealed that Japan ranked the lowest among the Group of Seven countries, continuing the multi-year trend. Despite the marginal improvement from the previous year, Japan’s ranking remains low predominantly due to challenges such as limited female representation in political spheres.
Although Japan is positioning itself as a leading nation in WPS efforts, experts highlight the need to improve the domestic environment. Another critical concern is whether WPS agenda, which has thrived under Kamikawa’s diplomacy, can maintain its momentum in the future.
Continued commitment and tangible progress in WPS on the international stage could positively influence Japan's own domestic policies, fostering a sustainable cycle of improvement.
As Kamikawa remarked in a video message for a recent gender empowerment event, “whether it be business or diplomacy, only the organizations that can value people and respect diversity will be able to grow and survive.” By upholding these principles, Japan has the potential to drive lasting change both globally and at home.
Ayumi Nagatomi is an intern with the Japan Chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C.