International Cooperation

International Seminar

Event Report

FY2016 Seminar for Gender Equality Officers and Women Leaders in the Asia Region

Date：October 3 to 7, 2016

From October 3 to 7, the National Women’s Education Center hosted the international program “2016 Seminar for Gender Equality Officers and Women Leaders in the Asia Region” under the theme “Career Development of Young Women and Girls.” This year, ten women leaders who work for national machinery and NGO organizations participated in this seminar from five Asian countries (South Korea, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, the Philippines and Myanmar).

Contents
Report

Go to Japanese page/日本語ページはこちら

alt In front of the NWEC training center

During the stay at NWEC, participants visited the Information Center for Women’s Education and the Women Archives Center, and presented their country reports. They shared the latest gender equality policies and issues on support for young women in the five Asian countries.

alt Visit to the Archives Center

alt Country report presentation

alt Exchange of opinions with NWEC President

At the Saitama Prefectural Gender Equality Center (With You Saitama), participants learned about various community-based efforts to support women through diverse programs, such as a “career preparation seminar” for young women and an on-site DV seminar (“DV Demae Koza”) offered through visits to local high schools.

alt Welcoming address by Director Murakami of the Saitama Prefectural Gender Equality Center

alt Saitama Prefectural Gender Equality Center

In Japan, some young women suffer from difficulty in living, facing various problems including abuse, unexpected pregnancy and social withdrawal (“hikikomori”). Seminar participants also exchanged opinions with staff members of the NPO Group “BOND Project,” which promotes the empowerment of these socially isolated women through a face-to-face approach in downtown areas and through counseling.

alt Lecture about BOND Project

On the third day of this training program, participants visited the Gender Equality Bureau Cabinet Office to attend a lecture about the gender equality policies of the Japanese government. At Ochanomizu University, the initiatives of the Institute for Global Leadership and Kiinjuku were presented.

alt Gender Equality Bureau Cabinet Office

alt Greeting from Vice President Izaki of Ochanomizu University

alt Exchange of opinions at Ochanomizu University

On the last day, seminar participants visited Tokyo Metropolitan Nogei Agricultural High School to observe practical training of the Horticultural Science Course and observe the “graduates’ gardens” produced by third-year students of the Green Spaces Environment Course

In the opinion exchange session following the school visit, participants joined in active discussions about the issues of secondary education compared to their home countries. After attending the closing ceremony, the participants returned to their home countries on October 8.

alt Visit to Tokyo Metropolitan Nogei Agricultural High School

alt Visit to Tokyo Metropolitan Nogei Agricultural High School

The outcome of this program is published now under the title of “2016 Leader Seminar Report,” which outlines model cases of social involvement support for young women in the participating countries and Japan.

International Cooperation