Press Releases
The Second Meeting of the Roundtable for Promoting the National Action Plan (NAP) on Business and Human Rights
March 7, 2022
On March 7, the second meeting of the Roundtable for Promoting the National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights (NAP) was held online.
- A wide range of participants came together and exchanged views during the meeting. These included business associations, experts, civil society, international organizations and other relevant organizations, as well as relevant government ministries and agencies. Mr. NAKATANI Gen, Special Advisor to the Prime Minister, gave the opening remarks.
- The Government of Japan introduced its efforts in relation to the NAP and reported on the discussions held in the Working Group set up under this Roundtable in February this year. The stakeholders also expressed views concerning their recognition of the current situation and issues, as well as their expectations and requests for future measures encouraging business enterprises to respect human rights and for methods to follow up on the implementation of the NAP.
- Taking into consideration the views expressed at the meeting, the Government will continue to steadily implement the NAP.
(Reference1) National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights
- In 2016, the Government of Japan announced its intention to formulate a National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights. The Government further reiterated this intention in various policy documents such as its “Growth Strategy 2018” and the “SDGs Implementation Guiding Principles Revised Edition.”
- In 2018, as the initial step in developing the NAP, the Government of Japan undertook a Government-led baseline study with the aim of assessing the current landscape surrounding legislation and policies and the extent to which they provide for the protection of human rights in the context of business activities. The Government of Japan then established an Advisory Committee for the NAP on Business and Human Rights (hereinafter the Advisory Committee) and a Working Group on the NAP on Business and Human Rights (hereinafter the Working Group). Subsequently, in October 2020, taking into account the views from the Advisory Committee meetings and the Working Group meetings as well as comments received in the “public comment” procedure, the Inter-Ministerial Committee for Japan’s NAP on Business and Human Rights formulated the NAP with the aim of promoting respect for human rights in the context of business activities.
- The NAP lists a series of measures related to business and human rights to be implemented by the Government. It also sets out expectations for business enterprises to promote the implementation of human rights due diligence in the context of their business activities.
(Reference2) Roundtable for Promoting the National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights
In accordance with the NAP, the Roundtable is organized as a framework for continued dialogue among relevant government ministries, experts, and stakeholders from different fields. It aims to promote efforts on the implementation and review of the NAP with the cooperation of various stakeholders.
(Reference3)
The First Meeting of the Roundtable for Promoting the National Action Plan (NAP) on Business and Human Rights
- Stakeholders
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- ARAI Masaru
- Chair, Japan Sustainable Investment Forum; Senior Engagement Consultant, Hermes EOS
- ARIMA Toshio
- Chairman of the Board, Global Compact Network Japan
- OMURA Emi
- Former Chair, Committee on International Human Rights, Japan Federation of Bar Associations
- KONO Yasuko
- Director, Japan Consumers’ Association
- TAKASAKI Shinichi
- Director, International Labour Organization Office for Japan
- FUTAMIYA Masaya
- Chair, Committee on Responsible Business Conduct & SDGs Promotion, Keidanren (Japan Business Federation) /Vice Chair of the Board of Councillors Director-Chairman, Sompo Japan Insurance Inc.
- HAMAMOTO Shotaro
- Professor, Graduate School of Law, Kyoto University
- HIROHAMA Yasuhisa
- CEO, National Conference of Association of Small Business Entrepreneurs
- YASUKOCHI Katahiro
- Vice President, JTUC-Rengo (Japanese Trade Union Confederation)
- WAKABAYASHI Hideki
- Chair, Business and Human Rights Civil Society Platform
- Government Ministries and Agencies
- MATANO Motosada, Deputy Director-General/Deputy Assistant Minister, Foreign Policy Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Chair), Director-level officials from the following ministries and agencies: Cabinet Office, National Police Agency, Financial Services Agency, Consumer Affairs Agency, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Ministry of the Environment, and Ministry of Defense