Japan protests UN call for reviewing male-only imperial succession

Tokyo [Japan], November 1: Japan has lodged a protest with a UN human rights watchdog that called for reviewing a domestic law that limits imperial succession to male heirs on the emperor's father side, the top government spokesman said Wednesday.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said the imperial succession system is linked to the foundations of Japan as a country, and that the government had told the U.N. panel, which aims at eliminating discrimination against women, before the release of the review that it would be "inappropriate" for it to take up the issue, according to Japan Today.
"It is extremely regrettable that the final report included a reference to the Imperial House Law," Hayashi said at a press conference.
While the panel acknowledged in its report released Tuesday that the 1947 Imperial House Law is "not within the purview" of its competence, it said it considers the succession rule "contrary to the object and purpose" of the U.N. convention to eliminate discrimination against women.
"We have lodged a strong protest with the committee and called again for the removal of the reference," he added.
Source: Emirates News Agency