This page summarizes cases raised with Japan by the Special Rapporteur between May 1, 2011, (when the Special Rapporteur took up his functions) and February 28, 2017 (the date of the last public release of communications). Communications are released to the public once per year. This page also contains observations on these communications and on responses received from Japan.
Communications and observations are divided into sections based upon which observation report they originally appeared.
Each communication is referenced as urgent appeal (UA), allegation letter (AL), joint urgent appeal (JUA) and joint allegation letter (JAL) – the hyperlinks lead to these documents. This is followed by the date the communication was issued, as well as the case number and the State reply (also hyperlinked if available).
Summaries and communications are published only in the language of submission (in the case of Japan, English).
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Observations
Response to communication
The Special Rapporteur thanks the Government of Japan for its response to his communication.
The Special Rapporteur takes note of the information received in the response from the Government. He, however, remains concerned about the excessive use of force and arrests of peaceful demonstrators who sought to protect the biodiverse ecosystem of Okinawa upon which local communities depend for their livelihoods and their culture. In this regard, he wishes to refer to the joint report on the proper management of assemblies he prepared with the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions (A/HRC/31/66), which is relevant to the present case.
Observations
Response to communications
The Special Rapporteur thanks the Government of Japan for the substantive response submitted to the communication dated 30 May 2016, regarding allegations of surveillance of Ms. Kazuko Ito, who facilitated the organization of meetings of the United Nations Special Rapporteur on freedom of opinion and expression with civil society in Japan. The order to monitor, and the act of monitoring of, human rights defenders and their interactions with United Nations special procedures, if confirmed, would amount to an act of intimidation and reprisal for their cooperation with the United Nations, its representatives and mechanisms in the field of human rights. At the same time, the Special Rapporteur notes the information received from the Government stating that following Ms. Ito’s inquiry and the communication received from Special Procedures, the allegation was investigated and both the Public Security Intelligence Agency (PSIA) and the National Police Agency confirmed that they “had never received such instructions nor conducted such research activities as were reported by the media”.
In the case concerning the arrest and detention of Mr. Hiroji Yamashiro, the Chairman of the Okinawa Peace Movement Centre, a non-governmental organization established for the protection of peace and democracy in Okinawa, the Special Rapporteur expresses concerns about the arrest and detention of the human rights defender, as well as the charges brought against him. The centre has been protesting the construction of the Henoko military base and the withdrawal and closure of the Marine Corps Air station Futenman and the plan to relocate it within Okinawa. The Special Rapporteur is particularly concerned at the allegations of lack of due process, in particular in connection with Mr. Yamashiro’s longtime detention, the use of retroactive charges while he continued to be in detention, and the prohibition of visits from his family. At the same time, the Special Rapporteur takes note of the Government’s response that Mr. Yamashiro was released on bail on 18 March 2017, in accordance with the court’s decision. The Special Rapporteur also takes note of the information provided that since 17 October 2016, Mr. Yamashiro has been arrested three times, and apart from the on-the-spot arrest, the other two arrests were conducted with arrest warrants issued by the court.
For the full reports, containing communications, replies and observations for all countries, see the following links:
Report A/HRC/20/27/Add.3: May 1, 2011 to March 15, 2012
Report A/HRC/23/39/Add.2: March 16, 2012 to February 28, 2013
Report A/HRC/26/29/Add.1: March 1, 2013 to February 28, 2014
Report A/HRC/29/25/Add.3: March 1, 2014 to February 28, 2015
Report A/HRC/32/36/Add.3: March 1, 2015 to February 28, 2016
Report A/HRC/35/28/Add.4: March 1, 2016 to February 28, 2017
