Shibuya Ward to issue same-sex partnership certificates from Nov 5
TOKYO -
Tokyo’s Shibuya Ward will start issuing certificates recognizing same-sex partnerships as being equivalent to marriage from Nov 5, becoming the country’s first municipality to officially recognize such couples.
The certificates will be issued to same-sex couples aged 20 or older living in the ward who have created a notary document stipulating both the individuals share a relationship based on trust and love.
Setagaya Ward, which also plans to issue similar certificates, said Friday it will start accepting on Nov 5 written oaths needed to issue the documents recognizing same-sex partnership.
The papers, however, will not be legally binding. The Shibuya Ward office describes the partnerships to be recognized in the certificates as being different from marriage as stipulated in the Constitution.
Shibuya Mayor Ken Hasebe pledged at a press conference Friday that the ward will raise awareness on sexual minorities at schools and other places as discrimination against them remains.
Setagaya Mayor Nobuto Hosaka said at a separate press conference, “Both Shibuya and Setagaya wards are aiming to build a society that accepts diversity. We hope this movement spreads across the country.”
In late March, Shibuya Ward adopted an ordinance highlighting the importance of gender equality and respect for diversity, calling on real estate firms and other businesses as well as hospitals not to discriminate against couples who have the certificates.
If they violate the ordinance and do not comply with requests to change their practices, their names will be disclosed to the public.
People in same-sex relationships often face discrimination when looking for housing or visiting partners in hospitals on the grounds that they are not relatives.
Source : JapanToday
Tokyo’s Shibuya Ward will start issuing certificates recognizing same-sex partnerships as being equivalent to marriage from Nov 5, becoming the country’s first municipality to officially recognize such couples.
The certificates will be issued to same-sex couples aged 20 or older living in the ward who have created a notary document stipulating both the individuals share a relationship based on trust and love.
Setagaya Ward, which also plans to issue similar certificates, said Friday it will start accepting on Nov 5 written oaths needed to issue the documents recognizing same-sex partnership.
The papers, however, will not be legally binding. The Shibuya Ward office describes the partnerships to be recognized in the certificates as being different from marriage as stipulated in the Constitution.
Shibuya Mayor Ken Hasebe pledged at a press conference Friday that the ward will raise awareness on sexual minorities at schools and other places as discrimination against them remains.
Setagaya Mayor Nobuto Hosaka said at a separate press conference, “Both Shibuya and Setagaya wards are aiming to build a society that accepts diversity. We hope this movement spreads across the country.”
In late March, Shibuya Ward adopted an ordinance highlighting the importance of gender equality and respect for diversity, calling on real estate firms and other businesses as well as hospitals not to discriminate against couples who have the certificates.
If they violate the ordinance and do not comply with requests to change their practices, their names will be disclosed to the public.
People in same-sex relationships often face discrimination when looking for housing or visiting partners in hospitals on the grounds that they are not relatives.
Source : JapanToday