Japan Freezes Funding for UN Women's Committee over Imperial Succession Law

In a significant response to a U.N. committee's recommendation, Japan has decided to freeze its voluntary funding for the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), following calls to amend its male-only imperial succession law. The Japanese government, led by Foreign Ministry spokesperson Toshihiro Kitamura, argues that the qualifications for the imperial throne do not constitute a basic human right and thus limiting succession to males does not discriminate against women. This decision follows a report from CEDAW urging Japan to consider allowing a female emperor, amidst concerns over the declining number of male royals. Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi expressed that the U.N. report was