Situation of Human Rights in Japan

Tuesday 5th of August
Room XXVII-13:00-15:00

The purpose of this lunchtime briefing, chaired by Mr Yorio Shiokawa (Japanese Workers' Committee for Human Rights), was to explain the situation of Human Rights in Japan, and that all the participants' sharing of particular experiences in the field of violation of Human Rights.

Mr Osamu Nikura (Chair of the Delegation to the UN, Professor of Law at Aoyama Gakuin University, Deputy Secretary General of the International Association of Democratic Lawyer (IADL)) explained that although the Government of Japan submits national reports on Human Rights situations on its soil to the UN committees, he had not always been ardent with protecting or involving international instruments on Human Rights. Mr Nikura encouraged the audience to go through the booklet "People's Voices from Japan", edited by the Japanese Workers' Committee for Human Rights. This booklet regroups many cases of violation of Human Rights, some examples of which will be discussed by the participant speakers of this meeting.

Different persons were then given the floor to express their complaints. For example, the frustration of women regarding human rights (in relation to women's rights) was expressed by one of the participants. Another explained that group insurances abuses are rampant throughout Japan. A member of the Labour Union of Migrant Workers in Tokyo tackled the problem of the unfavourable working conditions of foreign workers. Another big issue was the case of the "red purges": many public servants were cast out of offices in the post-war era simply because they were presumably communist.

After a little break, Mr Shiokawa gave the floor to the invited speakers.
Mrs Pelpina Sahureka (IADL) explained that her home country, Molocus Island, Indonesia, was colonised by Holland and that the people were concentrated in camps by Japan during World War II. All the Human Rights' violations have to be accounted and punished. The only way to accomplish this goal is to expose situations to the world and let the international institutions know what is happening. She said that a common action, strategy would be a solution.

Mr Raul Ravinder (Himalayan Research and Cultural Foundation) from India expressed his feelings of "eye-opening experience" to be acquainted with the problems in Japan. He said that "coming together" is a good starting point for Human Rights and that he looks forward to a closer cooperation. His NGO deals with Human Rights all around the world in publishing journals and books among other activities.

Mr Marcelino Diaz de Jesus (Consejo De Pueblos Nahua Del Alto Balsas) from the state of Guerrero, Mexico expressed the situation of the Nahuas Indians who are displaced from their homes by the Government of Mexico, which is to build a hydroelectric dam. Their struggle is to include Human Rights and Indigenous People's Rights in the national constitution. His association is a pacific movement and has many projects for agriculture and Human Rights.

Mr Julen Arzuaga (LIDLIP, The International League for the Rights and Liberation of Peoples) from Bask Country explained that his association defends the people collective rights. He said he had never thought that such violations of Human Rights could happen in Japan and told that this must be denounced. The UN system is an important instrument expressing claims about violations. The only way to promote Human Rights is to denounce real cases so they won't happen again. As other speakers, he highlighted that "we must stand up in solidarity".

By: Melvina ARAMAN

BACK