Diversity and Gender Equality Promotion Project Lecture
“Why is Denmark the happiest country* in the world?”
– The first society in the world to recognize same-sex partnerships –
*2016 World Happiness Report
This lecture introduced audience members to the childrearing, education, health care, nursing care, pension, tax, and social insurance systems of Denmark, focusing on the country’s history and present situation in terms of good work-life balance, gender equality, and social inclusion, and compared this with the situation in Japan. In addition, the audience was told about how Denmark, with its distinctive status as the first country in the world to recognize same-sex marriage, incorporates LGBT education from childhood. With regard to the employment situation in Denmark, audience members were introduced to the term “Flexicurity.” This term combines the flexibility of a society having a robust employment system that allows for childbirth and childrearing without the need to stop working, as well as an environment where companies are able to hire and fire easily, resulting in people changing jobs once every four years, with the security of a substantial unemployment benefits system together with education and training for those looking for work. The fact that Denmark is the most business-friendly country (Forbes, 2015, 2016) in the world was also touched upon. With regard to education, it was emphasized that people are taught from childhood to be self-reliant and to think for themselves. The speaker invited the audience members to reexamine the importance of adopting diverse perspectives in thinking for themselves, telling them, “I want all of you to take the content of today’s lecture and feel for yourselves why Denmark is the world’s happiest country.”
▲Kazuhiro TERADA
Friday, July 8, 2016
Speaker Kazuhiro TERADA
Royal Danish Embassy in Japan
Senior Political and Economic Affairs Officer
Organizer: Office for Promotion of Equality and Diversity
Co-host: EUIJ Waseda
Support: Embassy of Denmark,
International Community Center (ICC)
