Japan Panel Calls for Utilizing More Women for Int'l Peace

Tokyo, April 14 (Jiji Press)--A panel of experts advising Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida on Monday called for more actively utilizing women as part of the nation's efforts to boost its contributions for peace-building in conflict areas. The Foreign Ministry plans to reflect the proposal in its budget request for fiscal 2015. Japan's presence in the global peace-promoting efforts has been low, said the panel, headed by former Japanese Ambassador to the United Nations Yoshio Hatano. The panel called for preparing systems that make it easier for Japanese women with special expertise such Self-Defense Forces officers, doctors and lawyers to participate in overseas activities for international peace. It also underlined the need to create an organization to foster specialists in such fields as medicine, health and disaster prevention. END