On 11 March, the Japan Parliamentarians Federation for Population (JPFP) convened its Executive Members’ Meeting, followed by the Life Safety Education (LSE) Project Team (PT) Meeting. At the outset, Hon. Kamikawa Yoko, Chair of JPFP, delivered opening remarks, emphasizing JPFP’s longstanding efforts to address population and development issues that form the foundation of a sustainable society through cross-party parliamentary dialogue, as well as its strength in collaborating with networks of parliamentarians across regions. The Executive Members’ Meeting was moderated by Hon. Terata Shizuka, Director of JPFP, during which agenda items including the executive structure, membership expansion, activity reports, and future plans were discussed. Regarding the executive structure, members were invited to nominate candidates for vacant positions, and the structure of the LSE Project Team was also reported. In addition, in light of the decrease in membership following recent elections, members were encouraged to support efforts to expand membership across party lines.

In the second session, Hon. Abe Toshiko, Chair of the LSE PT, delivered remarks, underscoring the importance of LSE and expressing her intention to advance PT activities through strengthened collaboration with relevant stakeholders. This was followed by a presentation by Dr. Takahashi Sachiko (obstetrician-gynecologist and Assistant Professor at the Medical Personnel Development Support Center and Community Medical Promotion Center of Saitama Medical University) on “Current Status and Challenges of LSE from the Perspectives of Adolescent Clinical Practice and School Education”. Drawing on her clinical experience and educational outreach, Dr. Takahashi highlighted the importance of ensuring that young people have access to accurate knowledge, as well as establishing supportive environments and systems where they can seek help when needed. She also emphasized the need for coordinated efforts among schools, medical institutions, and communities to respond effectively to young people’s needs. Representatives from Japan’s Children and Families Agency provided an overview of trends in teenage pregnancy and related consultation and support systems. The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) reported on teaching materials, guidelines, and the current status of implementation of LSE in schools. The discussion that followed addressed challenges related to public understanding, the need to strengthen collaboration with expert networks, and the potential for new initiatives that incorporate the voices of young people.