7 Human Rights

There is growing international concern about the human rights situations in various parts of the world. The protection and promotion of human rights is the foundation for peace and stability in the international community. Japan recognizes that human rights are universal values and that the protection of human rights is the basic responsibility of all countries, regardless of differences in the method of achieving this goal and their cultures. While speaking out firmly against any serious violation of human rights, Japan considers, under the basic principle of “dialogue” and “cooperation,” that it is important to promote voluntary efforts of each country through bilateral dialogues and cooperation with countries that are working toward democratization and the protection of human rights. In addition, in the area of human rights, with the standpoint of bridge-building in Asia and protection of socially vulnerable people, Japan puts effort into improving the global human rights situation through bilateral dialogues, proactive participation in multilateral forums such as the UN, and constructive dialogues with the UN human rights mechanisms.

(1) Initiatives within the UN

A UN Human Rights Council

The Human Rights Council holds sessions throughout the year in Geneva (three regular sessions per year, lasting about 10 weeks in total) to discuss issues and make recommendations concerning the protection and promotion of human rights and fundamental freedoms. Special sessions to address the human rights situation in Ukraine and Iran were held in May and November, respectively, and resolutions were adopted, including on the investigation of the human rights situations in the two countries. To date, Japan has served as a member of the Council for five terms (most recently, Japan was elected in the elections held in October 2019 for the term from January 2020 to December 2022).

At the high-level segment of the 49th Session of the Human Rights Council held in February and March, NAKATANI Gen, Special Advisor to the Prime Minister of Japan for international human rights issues, delivered a statement. In his statement, he condemned Russia's aggression against Ukraine in the strongest terms, and strongly demanded that the obligations under international law including international humanitarian law should be fulfilled. He also spoke about Japan's continued determination to contribute to the protection and promotion of human rights in Asia and the world, and stressed the importance of the immediate resolution of the abductions issue. Furthermore, he expressed Japan's deep concerns over the situation in China including Hong Kong and the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, and urged China to take concrete actions. He also introduced Japan's latest initiatives in the fields of business and human rights, eradication of violence against children, elimination of discrimination against leprosy, the realization of a society where the pride of the indigenous Ainu people is respected, and the protection and promotion of women's human rights. The resolution on the situation of human rights in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), submitted by the EU and co-sponsored by Japan, was adopted without a vote at the same session (adopted for 15 consecutive years). This resolution refers to the urgency and importance of the abductions issue and of the immediate return of all abductees, the long years of severe suffering experienced by abductees and their families, grave concern over the lack of any concrete or positive action by DPRK, as well as the faithful provision of accurate and detailed information to the families of victims on the fates and whereabouts of the victims.

At the 50th session convened in June, the Netherlands delivered a joint statement on behalf of 47 countries, on concerns over the human rights situation in China, particularly in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. Japan was the only participating country from Asia.

B The Third Committee of the UN General Assembly

The Third Committee of the UN General Assembly is, along with the Human Rights Council, the UN's main forum focused on human rights. Generally, in October and November, the Committee discusses a wide range of issues, including those concerning social development, women, children, racial discrimination, refugees, crime prevention and criminal justice, as well as the human rights situations in North Korea, Syria and Iran, among others. Resolutions adopted by the Third Committee are then adopted by a plenary session of the General Assembly, contributing to the development of international norms.

At the 77th session of the General Assembly, the resolution on the situation of human rights in the DPRK, submitted by the EU and co-sponsored by Japan, was adopted without a vote at a session of the Third Committee in November and a plenary session of the UN General Assembly in December (adopted for the 18th consecutive year). The resolution refers once again to the contents of previous resolutions, including the urgency and importance of the abductions issue, which involves a serious violation of human rights, and of the immediate return of all abductees, and also strongly demands that North Korea sincerely listen to the voices of the victims and their families, faithfully provide accurate and detailed information to their families on their fates and whereabouts, and engage in constructive dialogue with the parties concerned. At the same session, Canada, on behalf of 50 countries, delivered a joint statement expressing grave concerns over the human rights situations in China, especially in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. Japan was the only participating country from Asia.

In addition, Japan participated actively in discussions in the international community toward protecting and promoting human rights, including discussions on the human rights situations in countries such as Syria, Iran, and Myanmar, as well as on various human rights issues that include social development and the rights of the child.

C Promoting the Introduction of Human Rights Due Diligence⁵¹ through the Implementation of the National Action Plan (NAP) on Business and Human Rights

Toward the implementation of “the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs)” endorsed by the UN Human Rights Council, Japan has been promoting respect for human rights in the context of business activities under the NAP on Business and Human Rights, formulated by the Government of Japan in 2020. As a part of these efforts, Japan is actively introducing its initiatives and sharing knowledge by attending international conferences and through consultations with foreign governments, with a view to promoting “Business and Human Rights.” Furthermore, in order to support efforts by business enterprises to respect human rights, the Government of Japan released the cross-industry guidelines on human rights due diligence in September. Immediately after that, NAKATANI Gen, Special Advisor to the Prime Minister, visited Viet Nam and Thailand. He participated in a regional forum organized by an international organization in Thailand, and held dialogues with government officials as well as with local organizations in both countries, conveying Japan's initiatives including the release of the aforementioned guidelines. To promote and raise awareness of the guidelines among Japanese business enterprises and provide support for the implementation of human rights due diligence, Japan is also actively engaged in support projects through contributions to international organizations, and holding overseas seminars, among other initiatives. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will continue to steadily implement the NAP in cooperation with the relevant ministries and agencies, while continuing to engage in dialogues with the stakeholders.

• 51 Human rights due diligence: To identify, prevent, mitigate, and address, as well as to provide information on, the impact of business activities on human rights.

(2) Initiatives Concerning International Human Rights Law and International Humanitarian Law

A International Human Rights Law

At the elections of members of the Human Rights Committee held at the 39th Meeting of State Parties to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) at the UN Headquarters in New York in June, Prof. TERAYA Koji (Professor of Graduate Schools for Law and Politics, the University of Tokyo), Japan's candidate, was elected to the Committee. Furthermore, regarding the human rights treaties that Japan has concluded, regular reviews of state party reports on the implementation status of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the ICCPR were conducted in August and October, respectively, and Japan engaged in constructive dialogues with respective committees.

B International Humanitarian Law (IHL)

Japan has actively been engaged in efforts for strengthening the national implementation of IHL. In November, Japan participated in the North-East, South-East Asia and the Pacific Regional Conference on IHL. Furthermore, as it does every year, Japan dispatched an instructor to play the part of the jury to the IHL Moot Court and Role Play Competitions, organized by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), as part of awareness-raising efforts for IHL.

(3) Contribution to Refugee Issues

From the perspective of international contribution and humanitarian aid, Japan has been accepting refugees from Myanmar who were temporarily residing in Thailand, under a resettlement program that ran from FY2010 to FY2014 (the transfer of refugees from an asylum country to a third country that agrees to accept them for long-term settlement). Japan has been accepting refugees from Myanmar who had been residing temporarily in Malaysia since FY2015, and allowed accepting eligible family members of those who already resettled in Japan from Thailand on the condition that mutual aid be provided with them.

Thereafter, in light of dramatic changes to the international situation surrounding refugees and trends in the international community, and from the perspective of better balancing the burden for the refugee problem among the international community, Japan made the decision in June 2019 to accept more refugees resettling from third countries under part of a new framework. Specifically, beginning in FY2020, Japan will now accept once or twice a year refugees temporarily residing in Asia without restriction on their birthplace and family members of the refugees who have already been accepted in Japan under a resettlement program (up to 60 people can be accepted a year).

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic situation in Japan and abroad, the acceptance of refugees for FY2020 was postponed, but this was resumed in March 2022. A total of 74 households (229 people) came to Japan from FY2010 to the end of 2022.

Refugees arriving in Japan undergo a six-month training program, which includes language studies for daily life and employment support services. Those who have completed the training program live independently in their respective areas of resettlement. Initially, local governments in the Tokyo metropolitan region played a central role in operations concerning the resettlement of refugees. However, from the perspective of promoting national understanding of the refugee issue, active efforts have been made to resettle refugees in municipalities outside the Tokyo Metropolitan area since 2018.

While the acceptance of resettled refugees has been done primarily by Western countries, Japan is the first country in Asia to accept resettled refugees.