What is Human Rights Forum
21 ?
About Human Rights Forum 21
1. Introduction
The Japanese Government has set up Advisory Council for Human Rights Protection and Promotion May 1997. This Advisory Council is expected to present reports to the Minister of Justice and other relevant ministers on "policy education to eliminate discrimination" in 2 years, and on "policy on remedy for human rights violations" in 5 years.
Human Rights Forum 21 was formed by major human rights organizations and academics established on 10 November 1997 to provide NGO perspective to this government process and encourage further commitment of the Government to the promotion and protection of human rights.
2. Objectives
The objectives of Human Rights Forum 21 are;
i) To provide forum for human rights NGOs to bring their experiences together;
ii) and to advocate for strengthening Japanese Government policy for human rights promotion and protection based on these experiences and reflecting the international human rights instruments the Government has ratified.
3. Activities
In order to fulfill the objective, Human Rights Forum 21 will;
i) conduct research on current situation of human rights;
ii) provide information and recommendation to Japanese government,
local governments, and other related institutions;
iii) and promote information exchange and cooperation with other human
rights groups in Japan and abroad.
4. Membership
The member organizations include:
International Movement against All forms of Discrimination and Racism- Japan Committee (IMADR-JC),
Buraku Liberation League,
Ainu Association of Hokkaido,
Human Rights Association for Koreans in Japan,
National Joint Conference of Religious Sects on Dowa Problem,
Buraku Liberation and Human Rights Research Institute,
Japan Teacher's Union,
Disabled Peoples’ International -Japanese National Assembly (DPI-JNA),
Japan Women's Council,
National Industrial Federation on Dowa Problem,
and National Dowa Educators Association.
5. Executive members
Chairperson: Kinhide MUSHAKOJI (Professor at Ferris Women's College, former Deputy Rector of United Nations University, member of the Board of the Trustees for the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Technical Assistance)
Executive Director: Koshi Yamazaki (Professor of International Law at University of Niigata)
3-5-11Matsumoto-kinenkaikan, Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo ,#106-0032, Japan
ph: 81-3-3586-7010 fax: 81-3-3585-8966
e-mail: mmaegawa@hurights.or.jp URL: http://www.mars.sphere.ne.jp/jhrf21/