Japan announced on Wednesday that it will take steps to oppose a UN committee’s suggestion to review the country’s male-only imperial succession law. Foreign Ministry spokesman Toshihiro Kitamura stated that Japan will ensure its contributions to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights do not fund the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women.
Japan contributes approximately 30 million yen ($193,000) annually to the UN human rights office, but those funds have not supported the committee since 2005. The decision follows the committee’s recommendation last year to review the 1947 Imperial House Law, which restricts imperial succession to male heirs from the emperor’s paternal line.
While Japan has defended the law, arguing it is integral to the country’s traditions, the UN panel condemned the male-only succession rule as contradictory to the principles of the UN convention on eliminating discrimination against women.
