Japonia bifează o premieră. Un primar aflat în funcție intră în concediu de maternitate

Shoko Kawata, the mayor of Yawata, Japan, has become the first sitting mayor to officially take maternity leave, sparking discussions on gender equality and women's rights. Elected in 2023, Kawata aimed to start a family while in office but found no existing provisions for maternity leave for mayors. A special protocol was created to allow her to take this leave. Despite support from many locals, online reactions were mixed, with some criticizing her full salary during this period. Kawata emphasized the need for societal changes to support work-life balance for all, as Japan faces low birth rates and an aging population. Her case is seen as a pivotal moment in the discourse on women's rights in Japan.