Country detail - yourHRC.org

Japan

Regional group:

Asia – Pacific Group (APG)

Council member:

2006-2007

2007-2008

2008-2009

2009-2010

2010-2011

2011-2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

Council Bureau membership:	–
Coordinator of regional group:	1 (2011-2012)
Voluntary financial contribution to OHCHR (2022) :

Other HRC positions:	–
OHCHR presence:	– No field presence
NHRI accreditation status:	–

National Mechanisms for Implementation, Reporting, and Follow-up (NMIRF): Unknown

Engagement with the HRC

Principal sponsorship of HRC resolutions

Elimination of discrimination against persons affected by leprosy and their family members; Situation of human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea; Promoting Human Rights through sport and the Olympic ideal; Advisory services and technical assistance for Cambodia; Enforced or involuntary disappearances; Civil society space: COVID-19: the road to recovery and the essential role of civil society.

Voting record

Since it first became a member of the Council in 2006, Japan has (in the absence of consensus) voted in favour of all resolutions tabled under item 4 (situations that require the Council’s attention). Where there has been a vote on item 2 country-specific resolutions, Japan has tended to abstain, but voted in favour of the resolutions on Eritrea, Nicaragua and Venezuela. For item 7 resolutions (human rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territories), Japan tends to either abstain or vote in favour. On item 10 resolutions (capacity-building), Japan has joined consensus on all resolutions except for four that were voted on during the period of its membership: on the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Japan abstained in 2009 and voted in favour in 2017) and on cooperation with Georgia and Ukraine (Japan voted in favour). 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.

View full voting record

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:

Regional
group statements

Average of statements for all countries: 98

Subregional
group statements

Average of statements for all countries: 46

Political group
statements

Average of statements for all countries: 109

Cross-regional
group statements

Average of statements for all countries: 61

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

Special Procedures

Standing invitation

Communications responded to / received

Visits requests status

Completed
Invitation sent by the State not (yet) accepted by the SP
Accepted / date set
Visit request by the SP and not (yet) accepted by the State
Postponed / cancelled

Longest visit request not (yet) accepted by the State >
WG on racism, 2013

Treaty Bodies

Ratified

Reporting Status

Ratification status
Party Not Party
Individual complaint procedure accepted.
Reporting status

Submitted on time
Submitted late
Not applicable

On schedule
Overdue (outstanding)

CAT

ICCPR

CED

CEDAW

CERD

ICESCR

CRC

CRPD

Most overdue report

CAT
4.65 Years

OP-CAT

Ratified

NPM established

Universal Periodic Review

Reported

(2008, 2012, 2017)

Mid-term report

1st & 2nd cycles

Level of delegation

Minister

Participation in other reviews
1^st cycle: 75 / 192

2^nd cycle: 90 / 192

Cooperation with the UN, its representatives and mechanisms in the field of human rights

Cited in the Secretary General’s reports on 'alleged reprisals for cooperation with the United Nations, its representatives and mechanisms in the field of human rights' (2010-2022)?

YES

Response to allegations from government concerned?
YES

Fulfilment of past voluntary pledges & commitments

Specific voluntary pledges: 17

Japan presented commitments and pledges in support of its candidature for membership for the period 2017- 2019 in July 2016.

Key pledges included: implement the obligations contained in the international instruments to which Japan is Party; continue to bring situations of concern (i.e., Cambodia) and important thematic issues (e.g., leprosy and human rights) to the Council’s attention; continue to offer its full cooperation to OHCHR; continue to cooperate fully with Special Procedures; actively contribute to the activities of the Council, including the UPR; present a UPR midterm report in 2016; contribute to on-going discussions on improving the methods of work of the Council, to maximise its efficiency and effectiveness; continue to promote human rights at the GA, exercising leadership in areas such as human security, women’s empowerment and disaster risk reduction; continue to hold bilateral dialogues on human rights; and help promote human rights overseas through development cooperation, especially focused on the right to health, women’s rights, education, disaster risk reduction, and the rights of persons with disabilities.

An analysis of steps taken by Japan in fulfilment of its international level pledges shows that Japan has not yet accepted the individual communication procedure under the CRPD. Japan has continued to make significant contributions to the UN’s regular budget. Regarding Japan’s cooperation with Special Procedures, since 2011 it has maintained a standing invitation, but is yet to accept 42% of visit requests. Japan continues to respond positively to Special Procedures communications. As pledged, Japan did submit an UPR mid-term report.

Japan

Asia – Pacific Group (APG)

Engagement with the HRC

Principal sponsorship of HRC resolutions

Voting record

HRC participation

HRC member empty chair?

Cooperation with international human rights system

Special Procedures

Standing invitation

Communications responded to / received

Visits requests status

Treaty Bodies

Ratified

Reporting Status

Universal Periodic Review

Participation in other reviews 1st cycle: 75 / 192

2nd cycle: 90 / 192

Cooperation with the UN, its representatives and mechanisms in the field of human rights

Fulfilment of past voluntary pledges & commitments

Specific voluntary pledges: 17

Participation in other reviews
1^st cycle: 75 / 192

2^nd cycle: 90 / 192