Japan Times
November 4, 2014
Female GSDF officer to be assigned to NATO
The Defense Ministry said Tuesday it will send a female officer of the Ground Self-Defense Force to NATO headquarters in Brussels for a two-year assignment starting in December.
Lt. Col. Chizu Kurita, 39, will be the first member of the Self-Defense Forces to be dispatched to NATO headquarters on a long-term basis.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who aims to expand women’s roles in various fields, proposed sending a female SDF officer when he visited the NATO headquarters in May.
Kurita in 2011 was in the SDF mission taking part in U.N. peacekeeping operations in East Timor.
At NATO, she will be tasked with drawing up measures to increase women’s participation in NATO activities. She will work under Marriet Schuurman, the organization’s special representative for women, peace and security.
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