The new Japanese government should take a leadership role in helping to improve human rights conditions in North Korea.

We write to you urging prompt protection for Rohingya asylum seekers from Burma. Several aspects of Japan's current policy on refugee protection fail to meet international standards, and therefore are in need of revision.

Japan’s new administration should publicly press the Sri Lankan government to end the illegal detention of approximately 250,000 Tamil civilians, five Japanese and international human rights organizations said in a joint letter to Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada, made public today.

We write to you on the occasion of your inauguration as foreign minister of Japan to encourage you to make the promotion and protection of human rights a central priority in Japan’s relations with Sri Lanka. In particular, there is an urgent need to address the plight of approximately 250,000 displaced civilians detained in camps by the Sri Lankan government, and establish an independent international investigation into serious violations of international humanitarian law during the recent conflict.

Governments in countries with caste systems should respond to the call from a top UN official to end this form of discrimination.

The new Japanese government should undertake a thorough review of Japan’s policies designed to promote human rights in Burma

We write to you on the occasion of your inauguration as Foreign Minister of Japan to discuss the human rights situation in Burma.