Japan’s Human Rights Commitments and Pledges January 2019
I. JAPAN’S HUMAN RIGHTS POLICIES Upholding the highest standards of human rights enshrined and guaranteed in its Constitution, Japan has consolidated its democratic political system and developed policies for the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms as universal values. Japan firmly believes that the promotion and protection of all human rights is a legitimate interest of the international community. Therefore, grave violations of human rights need to be addressed in cooperation with the international community. Japan also affirms that the human rights of all people should be respected, regardless of their countries’ cultures, traditions, political and economic systems and levels of socio-economic development, even if there are differences in their processes and speed of achievement with regard to human rights protection. Protecting human rights is the most fundamental responsibility of any nation. Based on its commitment to dialogue and cooperation, Japan has been steering efforts to resolve human rights issues of concern to the international community and to improve human rights situations through both international fora, such as the United Nations (UN) and bilateral dialogues. In addition, Japan has been extending necessary and feasible cooperation through technical assistance. Japan is committed to continuing to actively contribute to the promotion and protection of human rights throughout the world in collaboration with the international community, including the UN and civil society.
II. INTERNATIONAL COMMITMENTS AND PLEDGES FOR THE PROMOTION AND PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS (1) Conclusion of international human rights instruments and their continued implementation with sincerity Japan has concluded the following international human rights instruments and is committed to their sincere and appropriate implementation, including the submission of periodical reports and dialogue with each treaty body:
・ The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (1979)
・ The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1979)
・ The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (1985)
・ The Convention on the Rights of the Child (1994)
・ The International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (1995)
・ The Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or 2 Punishment (1999)
・ The International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance (2009)
・ The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2014)
Japan has also concluded and faithfully observed the Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols I and II, the Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and the 1980 Hague Convention (Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction). Furthermore, in 2017, Japan concluded the Palermo Convention (UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime) and the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, in order to deal with transnational organized crime including trafficking in persons. Japan will continue to appropriately follow up on the recommendations from each treaty body in order to bolster its cooperation with each body and its commitments pertaining to the implementation of each instrument.
In addition, Japan recognizes the importance of various activities by civil society. Based on that recognition, Japan holds meetings with public and non-governmental organizations, listens to their opinions and reflects them in its periodic reports. Japan attaches great importance to dialogues with civil society and will continue to hold them.
(2) Continuous contribution and active participation in the Human Rights Council Japan has actively engaged in the activities of the Human Rights Council (HRC) in order to improve the human rights situations of various countries and regions and find solutions to those issues. Japan served as a Member State of the HRC from its establishment in 2006 until 2011 and again from 2013 to 2015. At present, Japan is serving a term from 2017 to 2019. During each period, Japan has actively contributed to the HRC’s discussions and to the adoption of key resolutions and thereby has shaped the opinion of the international community pertaining to human rights issues as a Member State.
(a) Together with the European Union (EU), Japan has taken the lead in adopting the resolutions on the Situation of Human Rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), and is making efforts to raise international awareness in order to improve the situation of the human rights in the DPRK, including the abductions issue.
(b) Japan served as a pen-holder for the resolutions on the Situation of Human Rights in Cambodia and has continuously supported the efforts of the Cambodian Government to improve the human rights situation on the ground.
(c) Japan led the adoption of the resolutions on the Elimination of Discrimination against Persons Affected by Leprosy and their Family Members. In 2017, the HRC adopted the resolution to appoint a Special Rapporteur on the Elimination of Discrimination against