The purpose of this Act is to swiftly and thoroughly encourage women who choose to or intend to work, to fully demonstrate their qualities and capabilities and engage in professional life actively (hereinafter referred to as "women's active engagement in professional life"), leading to a vibrant and dynamic society in which the rights of both men and women are respected, and which can respond to changes in various social and economic conditions including the rapid progression of the declining birthrate and aging population, and the diversification of the demands of the Japanese public in consideration of the increasing importance in recent years of women's active engagement in professional life, pursuant to the basic principles of the Basic Act for Gender-Equal Society (Act No. 78 of 1999), by establishing fundamental principles for the promotion of women's active engagement in professional life, in addition to clarifying the responsibilities of the national government and local governments and employers, formulating a basic policy and employer action plan, and stipulating support measures for the promotion of women's active engagement in professional life.
この法律は、近年、自らの意思によって職業生活を営み、又は営もうとする女性がその個性と能力を十分に発揮して職業生活において活躍すること（以下「女性の職業生活における活躍」という。）が一層重要となっていることに鑑み、男女共同参画社会基本法（平成十一年法律第七十八号）の基本理念にのっとり、女性の職業生活における活躍の推進について、その基本原則を定め、並びに国、地方公共団体及び事業主の責務を明らかにするとともに、基本方針及び事業主の行動計画の策定、女性の職業生活における活躍を推進するための支援措置等について定めることにより、女性の職業生活における活躍を迅速かつ重点的に推進し、もって男女の人権が尊重され、かつ、急速な少子高齢化の進展、国民の需要の多様化その他の社会経済情勢の変化に対応できる豊かで活力ある社会を実現することを目的とする。