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Japan Japan Should Become a Champion of Human Rights By Kanae Doi, Japan Consultant for Human Rights Watch Published in English-Speaking Union of Japan Now is the time for Japan to revise its foreign policy and become a nation that advocates for human rights in a more public and vocal manner. As the biggest aid donor to many Asian countries and some African countries, Japan is in a unique position to do so. June 12, 2008 Commentary Also available in 
Printer friendly version Japan can help Cambodia's quest for justice By Sara Colm, Senior Researcher on Cambodia for Human Rights Watch Published in The International Herald Tribune/The Asahi Shimbun The long-delayed court process to bring Khmer Rouge leaders to justice is under way in Cambodia. May 29, 2008 Commentary Also available in
Printer friendly version UN: Sri Lanka’s Defeat a Victory for Human Rights Council UN Vote Upholds Council Membership Standards on Rights NGOs around the world call Sri Lanka's defeat in today's Human Rights Council elections a victory for the UN body. May 21, 2008 Press Release Printer friendly version Japan: Press China’s President to Protect Human Rights Prime Minister Fukuda Should Highlight Rights Issues in Bilateral Relations Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda should make human rights issues a priority in his historic meeting with Chinese President Hu Jintao in Japan next week, Human Rights Watch said in a letter today. April 30, 2008 Press Release Also available in
Printer friendly version Human Rights Watch Letter to Japan Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda Regarding Hu Jintao's Visit to Japan in May Human Rights Watch wrote to Japan Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda regarding Hu Jintao's visit to Japan in May and human rights issues in China. April 30, 2008 Letter Also available in
Printer friendly version Olympics: Japan Should Press for Human Rights in Beijing Japanese government officials planning to attend the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games should address the silencing of dissent in China and encourage the Chinese government to honor its Olympic pledges to improve human rights in the context of the Games, Human Rights Watch said today. Human Rights Watch executive director Kenneth Roth will be in Japan in mid-March to discuss a range of human rights concerns in Asia. March 13, 2008 Press Release Also available in
Printer friendly version Human Rights Watch Letter to Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda Human Rights Watch sent a letter to Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda in January, discussing the role that Japan can play in bringing about positive change in the human rights situation in China in advance of the 2008 Beijing Olympics. March 11, 2008 Letter Also available in
Printer friendly version Japan: Press Sudan to End Obstruction and Abuse Foreign Minister Should Call on Sudan to End Civilian Attacks The Japanese government should make ending the suffering and violence in Sudan a top priority in meetings this week with the Sudanese presidential assistant, Nafi Ali Nafi, Human Rights Watch said today. March 3, 2008 Press Release Also available in
Printer friendly version UAE: Meetings Should Address Migrant Workers’ Rights When labor ministers from 22 Asian and Middle Eastern countries meet in Abu Dhabi this week to discuss Asian contract migrant workers, they should address widespread violations of migrant workers’ rights, Human Rights Watch said today. January 18, 2008 Press Release Also available in 
Printer friendly version Letter to Japan Foreign Minister Koumura Human Rights Watch sent this letter to Japan's Foreign Minister, Mr. Masahiko Koumura, regarding the January 16, 2008, Japan-Mekong Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Tokyo. January 15, 2008 Letter Also available in
Printer friendly version Japan: Mekong Meeting Should Not Ignore Rights Abuses Human Rights Watch Sends Letter to Foreign Minister Koumura The Japanese government should publicly urge the foreign ministers of Burma, Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam attending the Japan-Mekong Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Tokyo on January 16 to address human rights concerns in these Southeast Asian countries, Human Rights Watch said today in a letter to Japanese Foreign Minister Masahiko Koumura. January 15, 2008 Press Release Also available in
Printer friendly version Letter to Governments in Asia and the Middle East on International Migrants' Day Migrants’ Groups Call for Key Reforms We are writing on December 18, 2007, International Migrants’ Day, to call upon you to implement key reforms to respect and uphold migrants’ rights. On January 21-22, 2008, the United Arab Emirates will host the latest round of the “Colombo Process,” a series of regional consultative processes focused on Asian contract migrant workers. We believe this meeting could provide an important stepping stone to establishing regional minimum standards regarding recruitment, employment, and protection of migrant workers. December 17, 2007 Letter Printer friendly version Asian Migrant Workers Abandoned to Abuse Migrants’ Groups Call for Key Reforms on International Migrants Day Governments in Asia and the Middle East must take stronger action to fight rampant abuse against migrant workers, several migrants’ and human rights groups said in a joint letter on the eve of December 18, International Migrants’ Day. December 17, 2007 Press Release Printer friendly version Burma: Japanese foreign policy should provide ethical leadership Published in The Asahi Shimbun Since the military took power in Burma in 1962, Burma has relied heavily on Japanese foreign aid. Astoundingly, in the mid 1990s Japan’s aid constituted more than 90% of OECD-DAC members’ aid to Burma. At the same time, trade between the two countries expanded. Though the economic situation and the horrible reputation of the Burmese military government has led to a decrease in Japanese foreign aid and investment, Japan remains a major donor to Burma until the present. October 17, 2007 Commentary Also available in
Printer friendly version Burma: End Attacks on Protestors, Account for Monks UN Envoy to Burma Should Press for Concrete Action During His Visit In its meetings with visiting United Nations envoy Ibrahim Gambari, Burma’s military government should pledge to end violence against peaceful protestors, account for hundreds of monks arrested this week, and allow access by independent observers to places of detention, Human Rights Watch said. September 28, 2007 Press Release Also available in
Printer friendly version Value Oriented Diplomacy: Expectations for Japan on Human Rights This May, the Japanese Foreign Ministry published its “2007 Diplomatic Blue Book,” which adds a new goal to Tokyo’s international actions: “value oriented diplomacy.” After five decades of focusing on the United Nations, the United States, and Asia, the book says Japan will now also pursue a foreign policy to realize universal values, such as freedom, democracy, basic human rights, and rule of law. Foreign Minister Taro Aso insisted that it is “a responsibility for Japan, as a developed democratic nation.” August 24, 2007 Commentary Also available in
Printer friendly version Japan's peculiar silence on rights abuses Exclusive Focus on Abductees By Sophie Richardson, Deputy Asia Director, Human Rights Watch Published in The Japan Times Japan observed "Korea Human Rights Week," a new occasion stipulated by the June 2006 North Korean Human Rights Act. The act, which built on Japan's cosponsorship of the 2005 United Nations General Assembly resolution, is supposed to increase public awareness of, and prevent, a variety of human rights abuses in North Korea, including torture, abuse of repatriated refugees, constraints on freedom of thought, expression and religion, and trafficking of women in China. January 8, 2007 Commentary Also available in
Printer friendly version Japan: Letter to Prime Minister Abe About Prioritizing Human Rights in its Foreign Policy We welcome the government of Japan’s commitment to prioritizing human rights in its foreign policy at the United Nations in the coming year. We also welcome your September 26 press conference speech stressing the value Japan places on fundamental human rights and your intention to pursue more proactive diplomacy in support of such goals. November 21, 2006 Letter Also available in
Printer friendly version Letter to the mayor of Miyakonojo Municipality about the removal of "sexual orientation" from the gender-equality ordinance On behalf of Human Rights Watch, I write in protest against the move to eliminate references to “sexual orientation” from Miyakonojo City’s “Ordinance for the formation of a gender-equal society.” Language affirming equality on the basis of sexual orientation has been part of that ordinance since 2003. Its proposed removal—by a process which has excluded the full input of citizens and civil society—would send a damaging message that your community is regressing from the promise of equality and its commitment to non-discrimination. September 14, 2006 Letter Printer friendly version Japan: Keep Equality Protections for Lesbians and Gays Municipality Must Not Weaken Landmark Anti-Discrimination Law A move to eliminate “sexual orientation” from a Japanese city's groundbreaking antidiscrimination ordinance would be a damaging blow to the cause of full equality, Human Rights Watch said today in a letter to the city’s mayor. The city assembly of Miyakonojo will begin debating the proposed changes tomorrow. September 14, 2006 Press Release Printer friendly version |
 
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