The Upper House voted unanimously Friday in favor of a government-proposed bill to create a society in which both men and women can participate equally.
The bill, drafted to create a basic law to that end, defines an equal society as one that recognizes men and women as equal members, where equal opportunities in every field are available for people regardless of their sex and where both men and women shoulder equal social responsibilities.
Immediately sent to the Lower House, the bill is expected to clear the Diet within the current session. The unanimous support in the House of Councilors came after political parties in the chamber reached an agreement to add a preamble aiming to clarify the significance of the new legislation.