CAMBRIDGE: Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on Monday his administration is trying to improve the status of women in his country as it also seeks to protect women’s rights on the international stage.

Speaking during a brief appearance at Harvard University on Monday morning, he also extended condolences to Nepal after a weekend earthquake killed thousands, saying that Japan has already deployed emergency relief units and the island nation will “spare no effort” to support Nepal’s recovery.

Abe, who is set to meet with President Obama and address Congress as part of a weeklong to the US that kicked off in Boston, focused much of his prepared remarks on his efforts to pull Japan out of prolonged deflation.

“I will be fearless going forward because there is in Japan among its people a strong and growing desire to pursue reforms,”

Abe said through a translator.“My role is to lead the nation to think of itself again as the Little Engine That Could”.

Abe stressed that a “stronger and more reliable” Japan is important to US interests as he touched on economic and government reforms such as encouraging more foreign investment and greater participation of women in the workforce and politics in Japan.

But one of the more pointed moments came during the question-and-answer session, when a Harvard student asked why the prime minister continues to “deny” Japan’s role in creating a system of sexual slavery during World War II.

Abe, through a translator, said Japan is making “various efforts” to provide “realistic relief” to the victims, without elaborating.

He also said the nation is taking a leading role in international women’s human rights, giving millions of dollars to the United Nation’s efforts in that arena.

Published in Dawn, April 28th, 2015

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