Japan hosts historic Pride 7 Summit towards greater LGBTQ Inclusion

The “Pride 7 Summit 2023” was held on 30 March in the International Conference Room of the House of Representatives First Members’ Office Building, bringing together LGBTQ stakeholders and supporters from around the world to discuss various LGBTQ issues. This event aimed to facilitate discussions and policy recommendations at the G7 Hiroshima Summit.

Pride7 (P7) is a groundbreaking G7 engagement group focusing on LGBTQ human rights protection and policy recommendations. Launched with the intention of fulfilling the role of democratic nations in the G7, the group seeks to make LGBTQ issues a part of the G7 agenda and promote coordinated efforts with the international community.

The “Pride 7 Summit 2023” is an international civil summit that addresses the roles and responsibilities G7 countries should play, both within their own borders and globally. This event emphasizes the importance of diversity in fostering a more inclusive society, particularly for Japan.

On the day of the summit, guests from P7 countries, the Netherlands, Mexico, Austria, Australian embassies, and Japan’s political, economic, and labor sectors gathered to share their thoughts on domestic and international situations and issues related to LGBTQ rights. Subsequently, reports were presented from ten P7 member countries.

In the opening remarks of the summit, Makiko Terahara, Co-Representative of the Marriage For All Japan, highlighted the importance of sharing the human rights violations faced by sexual minorities at the G7 and discussing and committing to concrete measures, including legal frameworks. She encouraged attendees to make the most of the discussions held at Pride7 and to create a statement reflecting the world’s pride in promoting diversity and inclusion.

Guest speaker Masako Mori, Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary (in charge of Women’s Empowerment and Promoting LGBT Understanding), emphasized the significance of respecting diversity and striving towards a society where everyone can enjoy a vibrant life while listening to the voices of the people. Mori also stressed the importance of demonstrating Japan’s commitment to embracing diversity both domestically and internationally.

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