Principal sponsorship of HRC resolutions
Civil society space, discrimination against persons with leprosy,
role of States in countering the negative impact of disinformation, advisory services and technical assistance for Cambodia, enforced or involuntary disappearances, and promoting human rights through sport and the Olympic ideal.
Voting record
Since it first became a member of the Council in 2006, Japan has (in the absence of consensus) voted in favour of most resolutions tabled under item 4 (situations that require the Council's attention), the exception were its votes against two texts on Myanmar (2018 and 2020). Where there has been a vote on item 2 country-specific resolutions, Japan has tended to abstain during voting on the texts on Burundi, Myanmar, Occupied Palestinian Territories, Philippines, Sri Lanka, cooperation with Venezuela and Yemen, but voted in favour of the resolutions on Afghanistan, Eritrea, Tigray region in Ethiopia, Nicaragua, Occupied Palestinian Territories, and the situation of human rights in Venezuela. For item 7 resolutions (human rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territories), Japan has mostly voted in favour, however, it has voted against three texts (2008, 2019, and 2020) and tends to abstain during voting on ensuring accountability and justice for all violations, in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, human rights in the occupied Syrian Golan, and human rights violations emanating from Israeli military attacks. On item 10 resolutions (capacity-building), Japan has either joined consensus or voted in favour, except for a 2009 text on the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Japan abstained). For thematic resolutions dealing with civil and political rights, Japan has generally joined consensus. Where there has been a vote, Japan has voted in favour of resolutions on torture, sexual orientation, education as a tool to prevent racism, arms transfers, peaceful protests, and democracy and rule of law. Japan has voted against resolutions on, inter alia: defamation of religion; a global call for concrete action against racism; right to peace; complementary standards to CERD; drones; question of the death penalty; and the effects of terrorism on human rights. For thematic resolutions dealing with economic, social, and cultural rights, Japan has generally joined consensus. Where there has been a vote, it has tended to vote in favour of resolutions on the right to development (though it twice abstained). Japan has voted against texts on: the effects of economic reform policies; the effects of foreign debt; globalisation and its impact on human rights; international solidarity; non-repatriation of funds of illicit origin; and unilateral coercive measures.
HRC participation
During HRC general discussions, panel debates and interactive dialogues with the Special Procedures, during the past three years, either as an HRC member or not, the State has joined:
0
Regional
group statements
Average of statements for all countries: 78
0
Subregional
group statements
Average of statements for all countries: 50
3
Political group
statements
Average of statements for all countries: 109
60
Cross-regional
group statements
Average of statements for all countries: 96
7
Other joint
statements
Average of statements for all countries: 5
HRC member empty chair?
Overall, as a HRC member, has participated in more than 10% of panel discussions, general debates and interactive dialogues.
Cooperation with international human rights system
Most overdue report
Fulfilment of past voluntary pledges & commitments