{"id":9534,"date":"2011-10-16T01:39:52","date_gmt":"2011-10-15T16:39:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.debito.org\/?p=9534"},"modified":"2011-10-17T11:53:36","modified_gmt":"2011-10-17T02:53:36","slug":"goj-wants-seat-on-the-un-human-rights-council-for-2013-2015-heres-mofas-formal-pledge-of-japans-commitments-to-human-rights-note-whats-missing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.debito.org\/?p=9534","title":{"rendered":"GOJ wants seat on the UN Human Rights Council for 2013-2015. Here’s MOFA’s formal pledge of Japan’s commitments to human rights. Note what’s missing."},"content":{"rendered":"
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Hi Blog. Here we have Japan wanting a seat on the United Nations Human Rights Council<\/a>, to help control the agenda and process of review\u00a0(like any any applicant, especially the venal ones, which is why the HRC was revamped in 2006 after being occupied by some of the world’s most egregious human rights offenders<\/a>). Applicant Japan promises to treat countries with mutual respect for their history and traditions (read: “I’m okay, you’re okay, so let’s just all get along and not worry about universal standards of human rights — especially as they would be applied to Japan”; there is a long history behind this attitude in the GOJ, see\u00a0Peek, J. M. 1991. \u201cJapan and the International Bill of Rights.\u201d Journal of Northeast Asian Studies, Fall 1991 10(3): 3-16; and Peek, J. M. 1992, “Japan, The United Nations, and Human Rights.” Asian Survey 32(3): 217-229, read my writeup on Dr. Peek’s findings here<\/a>).<\/p>\n

Note that the GOJ promises to follow the UN’s recommendations for improving domestic human rights (see some of those most recent recommendations here, and decide for yourself how well the GOJ is doing<\/a>, then read on here to see the plus ca change<\/em><\/a>. \u00a0Also note what’s missing in their promises: \u00a0Anything about the Hague Convention on Child Abductions (what with all the abductions after divorce<\/a>), and of course, anything about passing a law or taking any measures against racial discrimination (despite saying in 2008 that Japan was making \u201cevery conceivable measure to fight against racial discrimination<\/a>\u201c) \u00a0But that’s tough, you see:\u00a0\u00a0We don’t have any other races in Japan that would fall under <\/a>the UN Convention on Racial Discrimination’s<\/a>\u00a0protection, remember<\/a>; that standpoint remains fundamentally unchanged closing in on 20 years after signing\u00a0the CERD. \u00a0Here’s the transcript of how the UN review of Japan’s human rights record went back in February 2010<\/a>, and what the UN subsequently recommended Japan do back in March 2010 regarding the CERD<\/a>. \u00a0Read on to see how they are being studiously ignored in Japan’s pledges below, as usual. \u00a0Arudou Debito<\/p>\n

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MOFA WEBSITE TEXT BEGINS<\/p>\n

Top<\/a>\u00a0>\u00a0Foreign Policy<\/a>\u00a0>\u00a0Human Rights<\/a>\u00a0> Japan’s Human Rights Commitments and Pledges (Candidature for HRC membership 2013-2015)<\/div>\n

<\/a>[Courtesy Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dated September 30, 2011,\u00a0http:\/\/www.mofa.go.jp\/policy\/human\/pledge1109.html<\/a>, thanks to PMP]<\/strong><\/p>\n

Japan’s Human Rights Commitments and Pledges
\n(Candidature for HRC membership 2013-2015)<\/h1>\n

I. Japan’s basic human rights policies<\/h2>\n
    \n
  1. Upholding the highest standards of human rights enshrined and guaranteed in the Constitution of 1947, Japan has consolidated its democratic political system and has developed policies for the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms as universal values.<\/li>\n
  2. Japan firmly believes that the promotion and protection of human rights is a legitimate concern of the international community. It is therefore committed to addressing grave violations of human rights. Japan believes that the culture, religion, history and traditions of each country must be taken into account when addressing human rights issues, and will seek to achieve progress through dialogue and cooperation based on an approach which is tailored to meet the specific aspects of the country, region or theme concerned.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    II. International commitments and pledges for the promotion and protection of human rights<\/h2>\n

    A. Conclusion and implementation of the international human rights instruments<\/h3>\n
      \n
    1. Japan has concluded the following international human rights instruments and will continue to make utmost efforts to implement its obligations. Japan will duly follow up on the recommendations it has received in order to fulfill its commitments under the treaties and cooperation with the treaty bodies:\n