U.N. body to hold in-person review of Japan's gender policy in October

Use your time and money in something useful rather than banging on about this constantly. What a joke the U.N has become.

Since when foreign organization can really change on how Japan do their things?

This story is a good example of how two, on the surface, opposite views can both be true at the same time.

It is true that Japan should change the law and yet also true that it is none of the business of the UN.

Somebody at the UN has it out for Japan and is targeting Japan.

it's like if someone who lived down the street said they want to hold an in-person review your tv watching policy.

Perhaps Aso Taro can speak on behalf of Japan ...

But some lawmakers in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party oppose changing the system on the grounds that they cherish traditional family values, viewing the concept of marriage as an arrangement involving families rather than individuals.

Why can't it be both?

You can be a family and have your own individuality at the same time.

This mindset is why the birth rate is falling.

They should be allowed separate surnames but, cynically speaking, most Japanese women progressive enough to want it marry non-Japanese anyway to get around it.

sakurasukiToday  07:00 am JST

Since when foreign organization can really change on how Japan do their things?

Erm, if you know your Japanese history since WW2, many of Japan's social and human rights laws have been influenced or introduced by Western pressure or influence, particularly after World War II. Here are some examples:

The US introduced democratic principles and human rights laws, such as the Constitution of Japan (1947)

Women's suffrage in 1946.

The US influenced the Labor Standards Law (1947) and the Labor Relations Law (1946)

Some LGBTQ+ Rights (though they lag the West)

The UN largely shaped Japan's disability rights laws, including the Act on the Elimination of Disability Discrimination (2013).

 Japan has ratified numerous international human rights treaties, such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1979) and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (1985).

proxyToday  07:24 am JST

This story is a good example of how two, on the surface, opposite views can both be true at the same time.

It is true that Japan should change the law and yet also true that it is none of the business of the UN.

Somebody at the UN has it out for Japan and is targeting Japan.

sakurasukiToday  07:00 am JST

Since when foreign organization can really change on how Japan do their things?

> falseflagsteveToday  06:58 am JST

Use your time and money in something useful rather than banging on about this constantly. What a joke the U.N has become.

Some folks seem a tad uninformed about the role of the UN and other international bodies.

There is nothing to fear, and they don't 'target' anyone.

Think of it as a paid consultation service. Japan, like any democratic nation, receives and welcomes the professional and well-researched advice the UN provides and they pay for it as part of its membership fees.

The UN's role is to help member states establish and uphold widely accepted global standards.

They don't have any real power over any sovereign state; they are there to help and positively influence.

The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women has said the law forcing married Japanese couples to have the same surname is discriminatory against women, as the overwhelming majority of them traditionally adopt the husband's name.

When married to foreigner they can have husband's surname or keep own and add husband's one. I even wanted my wife keep her own too. It is useful in Japan for the reason many of us know.

Why Japanese couple cannot choose what they want? There is enough place in the passport.

@spidersenses

The US introduced democratic principles and human rights laws, such as the Constitution of Japan (1947)

Which Japan try to reverse either by JGovt and public in general.

https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2024/05/d85596d08133-japan-pm-calls-for-speeding-up-debate-on-revising-constitution.html

https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/politics/politics-government/20230503-107407/

UN should be more involved with these current endless wars from Sudan, Ukraine etc. After all Nippon is a peaceful sovereign State, and they can make or amend their own laws without outside interference.

CephusToday  03:44 pm JST

UN should be more involved with these current endless wars from Sudan, Ukraine etc. After all Nippon is a peaceful sovereign State, and they can make or amend their own laws without outside interference.

Ah, well, most countries welcome the input from the UN since they're paying for it as members, after all!!

The UN is a multi-tasker, Cephus. Peacekeeping and gender equality aren't mutually exclusive.

As modern history shows, a little outside perspective never hurt Japan, that's for sure.

"The UN is a multi-tasker, Cephus. Peacekeeping and gender equality aren't mutually exclusive.

As modern history shows, a little outside perspective never hurt Japan, that's for sure."@Bund

Point well taken bund, but do you know there are still some nation exercising female genital mutilation and here we are talking about surnames?

CephusToday  04:05 pm JST

Point well taken bund, but do you know there are still some nation exercising female genital mutilation and here we are talking about surnames?

Yes, it is a horrible practice that the UN is indeed working on and has made a lot of progress in the past decade or so, it's far less common these days than even 10 years ago.

The UN's focus on gender equality in Japan doesn't mean neglecting other critical issues like FGM though.

Legal reforms like surname change in Japan may seem minor in comparison but they are crucial for challenging deeply ingrained and inhumane gender biases.

The UN's work is not a zero-sum game; progress in one area complements efforts in others.

"Legal reforms like surname change in Japan may seem minor in comparison but they are crucial for challenging deeply ingrained and inhumane gender biases."

"Legal reforms like surname change in Japan may seem minor in comparison but they are crucial for challenging deeply ingrained and inhumane gender biases."

It depends with the couple involved I really don't care what names my wife uses.

"The UN's work is not a zero-sum game; progress in one area complements efforts in others."

The UN of Long Time ago really cared and served the people who were suffering but the current UN has been politicized by the rich progressive movement rendering it as big toothless bulldog

And the UN has noting better to do? What a joke. Japan should the UN.

The UN of Long Time ago really cared and served the people who were suffering but the current UN has been politicized by the rich progressive movement rendering it as big toothless bulldog

Well said.

The U.N. body has previously recommended that Japan amend the Civil Code over surname requirement in 2003, 2009 and 2016. While the recommendations are not legally binding, member states are expected to respect them.

We do respect them. We just dont agree with them. It is an internal matter.

Most women in Japan want to become housewives after marriage, so they actually want to take their hustband family name.

Is easier thst way to have shared bank accounts and such.

Most women in Japan want to become housewives after marriage, so they actually want to take their hustband family name.

And they should be allowed to do that.

Just as those who don’t want to change their name should be allowed to keep their unmarried names.

If married couples sharing a surname is what the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women is concerned over, this committee should be removed due to their simple ignorance of their mandate.

Japan currently is a pro-marriage society, and thus is pro-man, pro-woman, pro-child, and pro-family.

Japan currently is a pro-marriage society, and thus is pro-man, pro-woman, pro-child, and pro-family.

And they can encourage even more families by allowing the use of maiden names post marriage. The people who refuse to get married because they want to both keep their names, would then not be barred by oppressive puritan government over-interference in the bedroom.

This is a good thing for Japan to work on. It isn't such a good for the UN to work on. The UN can apply some embarrassing pressure, I suppose, but considering that we are basically on the verge of war, famine, disease, financial ruin, and other exciting things, wouldn't any of those be a better use of the UN?

In any case, if the UN makes a strong suggestion about what surname women should be able to have, Japan will no doubt totally agree, nod thoughtfully, and move on that motion after giving it very, very close examination by many, many committees of experts, over a long period of time, just to make sure they aren't missing any possible troublesome scenarios.