"Disapproval of same-sex marriage is unconstitutional".Pressure on Japan to 'improve human rights' at home and abroad

[Anchor]
The Japanese High Court has decided that civil law that does not recognize same-sex marriage is unconstitutional.

On top of that, the U.N. has called for a revision of laws that require couples to share the same surname and require only men to inherit the throne.

Domestic and international pressure is mounting on Japan to improve human rights by changing outdated norms.

Correspondent Kim Se-ho's report from Tokyo.

[Reporter]
The Tokyo High Court in Japan has decided that the provisions of the Civil Code, which do not recognize same-sex marriage, are against the Constitution.

It is the second time that an appeals court has ruled unconstitutional in relation to same-sex marriage, following the Sapporo High Court in March.

The court said the law that did not recognize same-sex marriage violates the Constitution, which stipulates equality before the law, individual dignity and essential equality of gender.

However, it is unclear how active the Japanese government will be in revising the law.

Before taking office, Prime Minister Ishiba emphasized the urgent need for legislation from the perspective of guaranteeing basic human rights.

However, he followed the existing government's attitude, saying it is necessary to keep an eye on the trial situation since taking office.

Meanwhile, the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women recommended that Japan allow couples to use separate surnames.

In Japan, it is stipulated that couples use the same surname, but most of them use the husband's surname.

This is the fourth such recommendation by the United Nations.

The Japanese royal family's "Imperial War Crimes," which allowed only men to inherit the throne, also recommended revision, saying it is difficult to be compatible with the ideology of the Treaty on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women.

However, the Japanese government expressed displeasure, saying it was not discrimination against women.

[Yoshimasa Hayashi / Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary: expressed strong regret along with the position that it does not constitute discrimination against women under Article 1 of the Treaty on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women]

Japan is the only G7 country where same-sex marriage has not been legalized, and the World Economic Forum and the WEF's gender gap index ranks 118th, the lowest.

The move to pressure Japan to improve the situation is expected to intensify both at home and abroad.

I'm Kim Se-ho from YTN in Tokyo.

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