Japan
Japan is a liberal democracy with a record of upholding civil and political rights, but its laws and systems to protect rights are weak. Japan has no laws prohibiting racial, ethnic, or religious discrimination, or discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. Japan has a law prohibiting sexual discrimination in the workplace only. Civil society groups have long called for a national human rights institution. Serious human rights issues include an asylum and refugee determination system that rarely grants refugee status, a “hostage” justice system that detains criminal suspects for long periods to coerce confessions, use of the death penalty, and a huge psychiatric industry that uses arbitrary detention and use of physical restraints. The Japanese government continues to actively support the expansion of fossil fuels both domestically and abroad, contributing to the global climate crisis.
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LGBT Rights
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Children's Rights
April 8, 2024
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Women's Rights
March 29, 2024
Videos
Videos-
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May 25, 2023
Japan’s “Hostage Justice” System
Denial of Bail, Coerced Confessions, and Lack of Access to Lawyers
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May 25, 2021
“The Law Undermines Dignity”
Momentum to Revise Japan’s Legal Gender Recognition Process
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News
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March 19, 2024
Japan Lawmakers Seek Probe of Carmaker Links to Xinjiang Abuses
Tokyo Should Enact Human Rights Laws to Counter Beijing’s Repression
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February 26, 2024
Abusive Interrogation Video in Japan Shows Urgent Need for Reform
Rights to a Lawyer, to Remain Silent Need to be Respected
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February 8, 2024
Japan Confirms Use of Restraints on Imprisoned Pregnant Women
Abuses Contravene International Standards on Treatment of Prisoners
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February 8, 2024
Japan Court Finds Rohingya Ethnicity Grounds for Refugee Status
Asylum Seekers Still Risk Being Returned Home to Harm
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February 1, 2024
Japan Police Accused of Racial Profiling
Ethnic Minority Residents Sue Authorities for Alleged Discriminatory Practices
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January 31, 2024
Japan Again Calls Out Chinese Government’s Rights Abuses
Tokyo Should Impose Targeted Sanctions, Advance Accountability for Xinjiang
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November 17, 2023
Survivors Demand Change to Japan’s ‘Hostage Justice’ System
Large Turnout for Event Hosted by Human Rights Watch and Innocence Project Japan
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November 14, 2023
Japan: Women Seriously Abused in Prisons
Reforms Needed to Ensure Respect for Rights
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November 13, 2023
Japan Should Act to Prevent Further Atrocities in Israel and Palestine
Tokyo as G7 Chair Should Promote Accountability