Yuko Sakita, Journalist/Environmental counselor
Masao Seki, Professor, School of Business Administration, Meiji University
Gon Matsunaka, Chair, Stop SOGI harassment Campaign
Hironobu Chin, Assistant Director, Planning Division, Department of General Planning, Japanese Trade Union Confederation (JTUC-RENGO)
Kanae Doi, Japan Director, Human Rights Watch
Patricia Bader-Johnston, CEO, Silverbirch Associates KK
Takuya Yamazaki, Founder, Managing Partner at Field-R Law Offices
We would like to send you our response to your letter “Supporting a national ‘LGBT Equality Law’ to Protect against Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity” dated February 26, 2021.
In the Olympic Charter set by the International Olympic Committee, it is clearly stated that the enjoyment of the rights and freedoms set forth in this Olympic Charter shall be secured without discrimination of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, sexual orientation, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.
The Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games (Tokyo 2020 Games) have established the Games Vision and set "Unity in Diversity" as one of the core concepts. We would like the Tokyo 2020 Games to foster a diverse society (Kyosei Shakai) and raise awareness of Unity in Diversity among citizens of the world.
In response to this Games Vision, the Tokyo Organizing Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (TOCOG) is trying to secure Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) in all areas of the Tokyo 2020 Games’ preparation and management based on respect for human rights, in order to make it an open game where everyone plays a leading role, while accepting each other’s diversity and not allowing any discrimination. In February 2021, we launched the “gender equality team” at the TOCOG. In the limited time until the Tokyo 2020 Games, we will create a movement involving athletes, partners, etc. toward the realization of "Unity in Diversity," and work on further specific measures so that when we look back on the games, it could be remembered as a turning point where Japan changed drastically.
Based on the Olympic Charter and the Games Vision, the TOCOG hopes that a diverse society (Kyosei Shakai) free of all kinds of discrimination will be realized. In addition, through the Tokyo 2020 Games, we will continue to integrally work on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which advocate the idea of “No one will be left behind” that humanity is seeking, and contribute to its realization together with the parties concerned. We will work to pass on that philosophy and efforts as a legacy to future Olympic and Paralympic games, mega sports events, and even more widely in Japan and the world.
March 16, 2021
President Seiko Hashimoto
Tokyo Organizing Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (TOCOG)
