Japan Human Rights
Human Rights Concerns
Elections in September increased the majority of the ruling party. The deployment of Japanese troops as overseas peacekeepers renewed public debate on whether to revise Article 9 of the Constitution which defines Japan as pacifist.
In November, the former President of Peru, Alberto Fujimori, left Japan for Chile where he was arrested at the request of the Peruvian authorities, pending an extradition request.
The 60th anniversary of the end of World War II, and renewed efforts by the government to secure a permanent seat on the UN Security Council, increased tensions in the east Asia region. The government was criticized for its continued failure to apologize adequately and provide full reparations for wartime crimes against humanity such as forced sexual slavery, and for the way Japanese history textbooks portray its past aggressions.
The Diet (parliament) debated but did not adopt a Bill first submitted in 2003 to establish a national human rights commission.
The government indicated that it would accede to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court by 2009.
Relevant Links
- http://www.amnestyusa.org/research/reports/annual-report-japan-2013
- http://amnesty.org/en/library/asset/ASA22/001/2012/en/1092e76e-5689-43eb-9c11-64960a4c6fd4/asa220012012en.html
- http://amnesty.org/en/library/info/ASA22/004/2012/en
- http://amnesty.org/en/library/info/ASA22/003/2012/en
- http://amnesty.org/en/library/info/ASA22/002/2012/en
- http://www.amnesty.org/en/news/japan-40-years-death-row-2012-03-27
- http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/ASA22/004/2013/en/957fdf51-2a4e-44fb-8ef7-e80c527279e5/asa220042013en.html
- http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/ASA22/005/2013/en/678e4194-e4eb-4213-b72c-97034a04c648/asa220052013en.html
- For more information visit the Amnesty.org Country page
Japan Newsroom
June 6, 2021 • Report
Governments Must Stop Conniving with Fossil Fuel Industries to Burn Our Rights
The world’s richest governments are effectively condemning millions of people to starvation, drought and displacement through their continued support of the fossil fuel industry, Amnesty International said today. The organization’s new policy briefing offers a damning assessment of global failures to protect human rights from climate change, and outlines how human rights law can help hold governments and companies to account.
December 9, 2018 • Report
Oppressive, sexist policies galvanize bold fight for women’s rights in 2018
Women activists around the world have been at the forefront of the battle for human rights in 2018, Amnesty International said today as it launched its review on the state …
February 18, 2016 • Report
Amnesty International State of the World 2015-2016
International protection of human rights is in danger of unravelling as short-term national self-interest and draconian security crackdowns have led to a wholesale assault on basic freedoms and rights, warned Amnesty International as it launched its annual assessment of human rights around the world. “Your rights are in jeopardy: they are being treated with utter contempt by many governments around the world,” said Salil Shetty, Secretary General of Amnesty International.
February 25, 2015 • Report
State of the World 2014/2015
This has been a devastating year for those seeking to stand up for human rights and for those caught up in the suffering of war zones. Governments pay lip service to the importance of protecting civilians. And yet the world's politicians have miserably failed to protect those in greatest need. Amnesty International believes that this can and must finally change.
May 20, 2013 • Report
Annual Report: Japan 2013
Japan Head of government Shinzō Abe (replaced Yoshihiko Noda) Police abuse and irregularities in police interrogations took place in Japan's criminal justice system. The authorities continued to reject calls for …
July 5, 2011 • Report
Annual Report: Japan 2011
Head of government: Naoto Kan (replaced Hatoyama Yukio in June) Death penalty: retentionist Population: 127 million Life expectancy: 83.2 years Under-5 mortality (m/f): 5/4 per 1,000 The daiyo kangoku pre-trial …
March 19, 2011 • Report
Annual Report: Japan 2010
Head of government Hatoyama Yukio (replaced Aso Taro in September) Death penalty retentionist Population 127.2 million Life expectancy 82.7 years Under-5 mortality (m/f) 5/4 per 1,000 Executions continued until August …
February 19, 2021 • Press Release
G7 Leaders Are Shooting Themselves in the Foot by Failing to Tackle Global Vaccine Access
Ahead of the virtual meeting of G7 leaders hosted by the UK government on Friday, February 19, Amnesty International has warned that failure to ensure global access to vaccines represents an abject moral failure that will ultimately harm rich countries.
February 10, 2020 • Press Release
Explainer: Seven ways the coronavirus affects human rights
The outbreak of the coronavirus (2019-nCov) that started in the Chinese city of Wuhan (Hubei province) in late 2019 has been declared a global health emergency by the World Health Organization (WHO). …
June 7, 2019 • Press Release
Climate activists Greta Thunberg and the Fridays for Future movement honored with top Amnesty International award
Climate change activist Greta Thunberg and the Fridays for Future movement of school-children have been honored with Amnesty International’s Ambassador of Conscience Award for 2019, the human rights organization announced …
