U.N. Panel Urges Japan to Revise Imperial Succession Rules

   Paris, Oct. 29 (Jiji Press)--The U.N. Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women on Tuesday recommended that Japan revise its Imperial House Law to ensure gender equality.
   In its concluding observation of a periodic review of the Asian country, the panel also urged Japan to implement a law revision toward introducing a selective dual surname system for married couples.
   The committee said the Imperial House Law, which allows only male descendants from the paternal line of the Imperial Family to become Emperor, is "contrary to the object and purpose of the Convention (on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women)."
   It called on Japan to look at other parties to the convention for reference and amend the law "to guarantee equality of women and men in the succession to the throne."
   In the previous 2016 review, the committee initially drafted a report that included a call to review the Imperial House Law, but the proposal was removed due to opposition from the Japanese government.

(2024/10/29-22:41)

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