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Statement by Ms. Arino Yaguchi
Alternate Representative of Japan
On Item 68(a): Implementation of human rights instruments
Third Committee
69th Session of the United Nations General Assembly
New York, 21 October 2014
Madam Chair,
At the outset, I would like to stress that Japan is of the view that universal values such as freedom, democracy, fundamental human rights and the rule of law are the pillars that uphold the basis of the state and the foundation on which prosperity around the world is built. The protection of all human rights and fundamental freedoms is a legitimate concern of international society, and it is furthermore a fundamental responsibility for each State to protect and promote them.
With a view toward making progress on the issue of human rights, the Government of Japan has been taking concrete measures, including through bilateral human rights dialogues, as well as through active participation in international forums. Recently Japan, under the leadership of the Abe administration, has been engaging enthusiastically in measures particularly related to the protection of women's rights.
Japan is faithfully implementing the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) and all relevant international human rights treaties. This shows, I believe, the degree to which Japan values the importance of human rights. Believing that the UPR is a worthwhile process which can promote the improvement of the human rights situations of all Member States, Japan has actively participated in the UPR's review processes within the Human Rights Council.
Japan's respective reports on the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination were reviewed respectively in July and August this year. The Government of Japan elaborated sincerely on the situation of the domestic implementation of these two human rights treaties, and we believe that we had a constructive and significant dialogue with each committee. Japan will continue to make efforts to materialize the spirit of the UPR and all respective human rights treaties. Toward this aim, Japan will be enhancing its close cooperation with international society.
Japan also places great importance on the role of human rights treaty bodies in the implementation of the respective treaties in each state party. In this regard, we have been actively engaged in the process of strengthening the human rights treaty body system over the past years, which resulted in General Assembly resolution 68/268 this year. Japan will continue to commit itself to further strengthening and enhancing the effective functioning of the human rights treaty body system in close cooperation with other stakeholders.
Madam Chair,
Japan ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities on 20 January this year. The Government of Japan signed the Convention in 2007 and thereafter it decided to start with a concentrated reform of systems concerning persons with disabilities - which is not exclusive to the implementation of the obligations required by the Convention - taking into account the discussion in the National Diet and the opinions of organizations of persons with disabilities requesting further implementation of domestic measures towards them. Along with this decision, Japan introduced several relevant pieces of legislation in a short period, including the amendment of the "Basic Act for Persons with Disabilities" and enactment of the "Act on the Elimination of Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities". Based on these reforms and acts, Japan was able to carry out the ratification of the Convention, which had been a dearest wish of all interested parties, including persons with disabilities themselves. This approach to improve domestic frameworks in advance of the ratification of the Convention is positively evaluated by organizations for the rights of persons with disabilities inside and outside of Japan, and United Nations stakeholders.
This year Japan also participated for the first time as a state party in the Conference of the States Parities to the aforementioned Convention, and two Japanese persons with disabilities representing both civil society and a framework to monitor the implementation of the Convention in Japan joined the delegation of Japan to the Conference. Japan will continue to implement the Convention sincerely and enhance its measures to realize the rights of persons with disabilities, with the participation and engagement of persons with disabilities.
The Government of Japan also intends to contribute proactively to the implementation of the Convention throughout international society through continued international cooperation and further participation in the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Madam Chair,
Lastly, I would like to introduce Japan's engagement on the issue of women's rights and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. This September, the Government of Japan submitted its state report to the Committee of the Convention, taking into account the Committee's past recommendations. Japan has been making sincere efforts towards the realization of the rights of women as stipulated in the Convention. For instance, the Government of Japan has set a target to raise the proportion of women in leading positions in the political and public sectors to at least 30 percent by 2020 and thereby promote women's participation in those sectors. In order to achieve this target, Japan is introducing seamless measures, including new legislation.
Madam Chair,
In conclusion, I would like to note that the protection and promotion of human rights is essential for the establishment of a peaceful and prosperous society as well as the realization of peace and stability among the international community. Japan will continue to commit itself to the protection and promotion of human rights at both the international and domestic levels through various approaches in cooperation with all partners including the United Nations. We will also take initiative in the field of human rights ourselves, starting with the field of women's rights, to which the current administration attaches great value.
I thank you.
