1. The EU, Japan and Human Rights
Erika Bugini
Mayumi Sekita

2. Human Rights Issues in Japan
- General Overview-

3. Major Human Rights Problems in Japan
Women Discrimination
Criminal Justice
Death Penalty
Comfort Women
Foreigners Discrimination (Korean)
Refugee
Freedom of Expression
LGBTI
Ainu/ Okinawan
Handy-capped People
Buraku-min

4. Women Discrimination Divorce & Remarrying Issue
Social Participation & Representation in high-level organizations
Work Conditions
Sexual Abuses (DV, harassment)

5. Criminal Justice Detention System→Daiyo Kangoku
Arrest & Interrogation Process
Lack of Transparence
Defendant’s Conditions

6. Daiyo Kangoku (Substitute Prison)

7. Death Penalty The Condition of Death-Raw Convicts
Process of the Execution
Defendant’s family
Burdon of the executers
Burdon for the jury
Possibility of miscarriage

9. How the Death Penalty is conducted?
Now We are going to Watch!!

10. Japanese Public Opinion for Death Penalty

11. Survey by Japanese Government

14. Reaction from International Society

15. Article 1 All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood. → Women’s Discrimination

16. Article 5 No one shall be subjugated to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. → Death Penalty

17. → Criminal Justice Article 11
(1) Everyone charged with a penal offence has the right to be presumed innocent until proved guilty according to law in a public trial at which he has had all the guarantees necessary for his defence.
(2) No one shall be held guilty of any penal offence on account of any act or omission which did not constitute a penal offence, under national or international law, at the time when it was committed. Nor shall a heavier penalty be imposed than the one that was applicable at the time the penal offence was committed.
→ Criminal Justice

18. Freedom House Survey Free 1.5 2 1 2013 SCORES STATUS FREEDOM RATING
CIVIL LIBERTIES 2
POLITICAL RIGHTS 1

19. International Reaction to Human Rights Issues
1948
Universal Declaration of Human rights
1966
International Covenant on Civil and Political rights (ICCPR)
1984
Safeguard Guarantee Protection of the Rights of Those Facing the Death Penalty from ECOSOC
1989
Second Optional Protocol to the ICCPR
1990
The Protocol to the American Convention of the Human Rights
1993
International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia

20. International Reaction to the Human Rights
1995
UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
1999
UN Commission on the Human Rights (UNCHR)
2002
Protocol 13 to the European Convention on the Human Rights
2005
Human Rights Resolution 2005/59
2007
UN General Assembly Resolution 62/149
2008
UN General Assembly Resolution 63/168
2010
UN General Assembly Resolution 65/206

21. EU Strategy of Human Rights in Japan

22. “The European Union is founded on a shared determination to promote peace and stability and to built a world founded on respect for human rights, democracy and the rule of law. These principles underpinned all aspects the internal and the external policy of the European Union ”
CONCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION
“EU Strategic Framework and Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy”

23. Core Elements of the Recent EU Documents
Renewal
Tailoring
Priorities
Universal
Local
Campaigns

24. Protection of the Rights of the Women and the Protection Against Gender Based Violence
Conduct a targeted campaign on political and economic participation of women with special focus on countries in transition.
Support relevant initiatives against harmful traditional practices, in particular FGM (Female Genital Mutilation).
Promote the prevention of early and forced marriages affecting children.
Implement the nine specific objectives of the EU plan of action for gender equality and women’s empowerment in development
Support initiatives, including of civil society, against gender based violence an feminicide. A B C D E

25. Administration of Justice
Conduct a campaign on Justice, focusing on the right to a fair trial
Continue to ensure monitoring of important human rights related trials, in particular trials against human rights defenders. A B

26. Abolition of Death Penalty
Activity contribute to lobbying the UNGA 67 resolution on the death penalty moratorium, in order to increase support among States while developing also further the content of the initiative.
Undertake targeted campaigns on the death penalty and intensiy engagement with retentionist countries.
Ensure EU input to the World Congress against the Death Penalty 2013. A B C

27. It will integrate the promotion of human rights into trade, investment, technology and telecommunications, Internet, energy, environmental, corporate social responsibility and development policy as well as into Common Security and Defense Policy and the external dimensions of employment and social policy and the area of freedom \, security and justice including counter-terrorism policy.

28. Discussion question
How we can enhance the awareness of Japanese people for the human rights’ issues ?
Do you think that is there any chance for Japan to improve from human rights' point of view in the future?
Do you think EU strategy is efficient or do you think it should use other kinds of strategy?
Do you agree with the opinion that EU is focusing mainly on the death penalty issue while it should also include other human rights issues?

29. Reference
Amnesty International, (1991). Japan the death penalty and the need for more safeguards against ill-treatment of detainees. Tokyo: Nihon Hyouron Sha.
Center for Prisoner. (2013). The death penalty in Japan a report on Japan’s legal obligations under the international covenant on civil and political rights and an assessment of public attitudes to capital punishment. The Death Penalty Project, Retrieved from
Council of the European Union, (2012). EU strategic framework and action plan on human rights and democracy. Retrieved from the European Union website:
Freedom House. (2013). Freedom in the world japan. Retrieved from
Tokyo detention center and execution chamber. (2010, December 03). Retrieved from
The Economists. (2013). Deathwatch. The Economists, Retrieved from
United Nations, General Assembly. (1948). Universal declaration of human rights
Yoko, K. (2010). Japan execution chamber opening could spark debate. REUTERS, Retrieved from

30. Thank you for your attention!