Conference on Asian Women

The statememt for the 16th KCAW is available here.

The 16th Kitakyushu Conference on Asian Women (KCAW)

Saturday, 5th and Sunday 6th November, 2005

Organized by Kitakyushu Forum on Asian Women (KFAW)

The Kitakyushu Conference on Asian Women (KCAW) is a conference annually organized by Kitakyushu Forum on Asian Women (KFAW), a non profit organization based in Kitakyushu City, Japan. The mission of the KFAW is to promote gender equality locally, nationally and globally. The aims of the KCAW is to share views and experiences and discuss on wide range of issues related to women’s lives for their empowerment and to achieve gender equal society by linking local experiences to global issues.

1. Theme: “Women Who Have Made History”

The theme of the 16th KCAW 2005 is “Women Who Have Made History”. Commemorating the publication of “History of Women in Kitakyushu”, the KCAW will shed light on women who create history and reaffirm their achievements for the advancement of women’s status and for the betterment of society in Asia.

2. Organizer: Kitakyushu Forum on Asian Women

3. Date: November 5 and 6, 2005 (Sat and Sun)

4. Venue: Kitakyushu Municipal Gender Equality Center “MOVE”

5. Tentative Program:

Date : November 5 (Sat) 10:00-18:00

• Opening Address 10:00-10:15
  
• Ms Hiroko HARA, Professor, Josai International University, & Chairperson, KFAW
  
• Mr. Koichi SUEYOSHI, Mayor, Kitakyushu City
  
• Mr. Shinichi NAKASHIMA, Chairperson, Kitakyushu City Assembly
  
  
• Keynote Speech 10:15-11:45 “Women Who Have Made History”
  
• (To be confirmed)
  
  
• Symposium 13:00-15:00
  “Women Who Have Made History: Women in Asia”

Panelists:

• Ms. Mu Sochua, Former Minister of Women’s Affairs and Nominee for 1000 Women for Nobel Peace Prize, 2005. (Cambodia)
  
• Ms. Sjamsiah Achmad, Former Member, the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) (Indonesia)
  
• Ms. Miyako ORII, Scholar of History on Women & Executive Editor, History of Women in Kitakyushu (Tokyo, Japan)
  

Cordinator:

• Ms. Keiko HIGUCHI, Critic & Representative and Secretary General, Women’s Association for the Better Aging Society (WABAS) (Tokyo, Japan)
  
  

Throughout Asian modern history, women, like men, participated in nation building and contributed to society’s prosperity and stability. Women also worked to improve women’s status. Due to gender-based discrimination, women have devoted themselves to the formation of a society based on equality and the elimination of discrimination.

However, these women’s contributions have not been recognized and were invisible throughout the history due to gender stereotypes and ideology. By highlighting women’s contribution to history, the conference will reaffirm the important role women have played and will play and will also discuss future tasks to form a just and gender equal society.

Session 15:00-17:00

(1) Work: Women have opened a Path for Women’s Work.

Panelists;

• Ms. Mami NAKANO, Lawyer (Tokyo, Japan)
  
• Ms. Noriko AKIYAMA, Deputy Section Manager, Women”s Promotion Section, SOMPO JAPAN Insurance Inc. (Tokyo, Japan)
  
• Ms. Takako ABE, President, KBS Inc. (Kitakyushu, Japan)
  

Coordinator;

• Ms. Mitsuko HORIUCHI, Special Regional Adviser on Gender Issues, and Director of Tokyo Branch Office of the ILO
  
  

For years, women have been contributing to the household and national economy through their diligent work. However, not only have their contributions not been recognized in the society but also they have been obliged to work in low-paid and/or unpaid work.

Under such circumstances, Japanese women as well as other Asian women have pushed for new job opportunities; improved their working conditions; and started business for their economic independence. This session will review women”s challenges and discuss a future direction for women”s economic empowerment taking the globalization of economy into account.

(2) Education: Women have opened a Path for Women”s Education.

Panelists;

• Ms. Sjamsiah Achmad, Former Member, the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) (Indonesia)
  
• Ms. Masako AMANO, Professor, Tokyo Jogakkan College (Tokyo, Japan)
  
• Ms. Katae TERASAKA, The first female principal of a junior high school in Fukuoka Prefecture & Counselor, Kitakyushu City Women’s History Compiling Committee (Kitakyushu, Japan)
  

Coordinator;

• Ms. Yukiko ODA, Chief Researcher, KFAW
  

Education has been a firm basis of women’s empowerment. In many Asian countries, it was women who started educating girls. It can be said that women made a history of women’s education. In recent years, women’s access to education has gradually improved. In some countries, female school enrollment ratio is higher than that of their male counterparts.

However, in terms of education for women’s empowerment, many things need to be done. While celebrating progress in women’s educational attainment in Asia, this session will focus on education for women’s empowerment and the integration of a gender perspective in education.

(3) Welfare: Women have supported Vulnerable People and nurtured Welfare System.

Panelists;

• Ms. Mu Sochua, Former Minister, Ministry for women”s and Veterans” Affairs and Nominee for 1000 Women for Nobel Peace Prize, 2005. (Cambodia)
  
• Ms. Keiko HIGUCHI, Critic & Representative and Secretary General, Women”s Association for the Better Aging Society (WABAS) (Tokyo, Japan)
  
• Ms. Sakiko FUJIOKA, Chairperson, Kitakyushu Council of Day Nurseries & Chairperson, Kitakyushu City Women”s History Compiling Committee (Kitakyushu, Japan)
  

Coordinator;

• Ms. Masami SHINOZAKI, Professor, Kumamotogakuen University, Chief Researcher, KFAW
  

Historically women have been major actors in supporting vulnerable people, such as, the elderly, the physically-challenged and the poor. Based on these experiences, women proposed policies and projects based on new visions.

The session will review the development of social welfare initiated by women and discuss important factors to create a society where every person can have a healthy and peaceful life.

• Session Reports 17:15-18:00
  
  

Moderator; Ms Yoshiko Misumi, President, KFAW

Discussions in each session will be reported back and a statement to be adopted by the all participants will be proposed and discussed.

Date : November 6 (Sun) 13:00-17:00

Presentation of the Interim Reports of KFAW’s Research Projects

• Masami SHINOZAKI, Professor, Kumamoto Gakuen University; Chief Researcher, KFAW
  “Emerging Policies for Migrant Care Workers for the Elderly in Japan: A Comparative Research with Singapore and Taiwan, Province of China”
  
  
• Hiroko HASHIMOTO, Professor, Jumonji University
  “Development of Rights-Based Approach and Women”s Empowerment in Asia”
  
  
• Toshiko HIRATA, Professor, Kyushu Women Junior College
  “Female Workers in Japanese Enterprises in Dalian City, China: Their Working Conditions and Cooperate Education”
  
  
• Yukiko ODA, Chief Researcher, KFAW
  “Gender Perspectives into Sustainable Development: A Case of Kitakyushu City”
  
  

6. Events to be held along with the KCAW: (To be confirmed)

• A photo exhibition, “History of Women”
  
  

Term: Friday, October 28th, 2005 – Sunday, November 6th, 2005

• Asian cinema (Advanced reservations required) November 2nd and 3rd
  
  

Admission: 500 Yen (Each) or 800 Yen for two tickets (Either two tickets for the same film or for each film will do.)

Cooperated with Kitakyushu Eiga Circle Kyogikai (Film Circle Council in Kitakyushu)

Sandakan		Osama

7. Official Support (To be confirmed)

Cabinet Office/ Ministry of Foreign Affairs/ Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare/ Embassy of the Kingdom of Cambodia/ Embassy of Republic of Indonesia Tokyo/ Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in Fukuoka/ ILO Office in Japan, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)/ Fukuoka Prefectural Government/ City of Kitakyushu/ Kitakyushu City Board of Education/ Asahi Shimbun Publishing Co./ The Mainichi Newspapers/ The Yomiuri Shimbun/ The Nishinippon Shimbun Co./ Nihon Keizai Shimbun Inc./ Jiji Press Ltd./ Kyodo News Fukuoka Regional Office/ NHK (Japan Broadcasting Cooperation) Kitakyushu/ RKB Mainichi Broadcasting Corp./ Kyushu Asahi Broadcasting Co.Ltd/ Television Nishinippon Corp./ Fukuoka Broadcasting System/ TVQ Kyushu Broadcasting Co.Ltd./ Kitakyushu City Women’s History Compiling Committee/ The Academic Society for Asian Symbiosis

8. Supporters (To be confirmed)

Kitakyushu YMCA, Kitakyushu International Association, Society of Women’s Managers of Public Schools in Kitakyushu, Council of Kitakyushu Parents and Teachers Associations, Kitakyushu Women’s Association for Better Aged Society, Committee for Education on Child Sexual Awareness and Wellbeing/CESA, UNIFEM Kitakyushu, Council of Women’s Groups of Kitakyushu, Zonta Club of Kitakyushu, The International Centre for the Study of East Asian Development, National Federation of Business and Professional Women’s Clubs of Japan, Soroptimist International of Kitakyushu, Soroptimist International of Kitakyushu-Higashi, Soroptimist International of Kitakyushu-Nishi, Soroptimist International of Kitakyushu-Minami, Kitakyushu Junior Chamber, Inc., OASC(Our Asian Study Circle), Kitakyushu Prosperity Enrichment Council, NPO Kitakyushu Association of Promoting Moderate Houses for Health, Kitakyushu Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Kitakyushu International Techno-cooperative Association, Japan Accountability Caucus Beijing Kyushu/Yamaguchi and Okinawa, Kitakyushu Liaison Council of Women’s Groups, Kitakyushu Promoters’ Group on Women’s Education, Kitakyushu Study Group on Women’s Education, Kitakyushu Liaison Council of Mother’s Group, Kitakyushu Council of Day Nurseries, Kitakyushu International Women’s Study Group (Ms. Wing), Kitakyushu Ms. 21 Committee OB Association, Kitakyushu Association of Dietary Improvement Volunteers, Kitakyushu Gender-equal Local Promoter’s Group, Kitakyushu Association of Women’s Consumers, The University of Kitakyushu, Higashichikushi Gakuen Educational Corporation, Seinanjogakuin University Junior College, Kyushu Women’s University, Kyushu International University, Japan Red Cross Kyushu International College of Nursing and University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan. (No special order is observed.)