Letter to Japan on the the ‘conspiracy’ bill (May 18, 2017)

Special Rapporteur on the right to privacy Joseph Cannataci of Malta sent a letter to Japan on the the ‘conspiracy’ bill.

Mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the right to privacy (PDF)


Media Coverage
Japan protests against U.N. expert's queries on bill to fight terrorism (May 23, 2017 Reuters)

Joint Urgent Appeal concerning the arrest and detention of Mr. Hiroji Yamashiro (February 28, 2017)

The Working Group on Arbitrary Detention and 3 Special Rapporteurs expressed concern about the arrest and detention of Hiroji Yamashiro, who heads the Okinawa Peace Action Center, in a letter of February 28 to the Japanese authorities.

The Japanese government sent a response to the statement in April.

Following documents became available on May 28.

Joint Urgent Appeal: Mandates of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention; the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression; the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association; and the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders (PDF)

Reply of the Government of Japan to the Joint Urgent Appeal from Special Procedures of the United Nations Human Rights Council (PDF)


Media Coverage:
UN 'concerned' about Japanese activist's detention (May 28, 2017 NHK World)

Side Event at UNHRC in June

We will have a side event at the UN Human Rights Council in June.

Side event at Geneva is a symposium on the status of human rights in Okinawa.

UN Special Rapporteur David Kaye, as the Keynote speaker, and Okinawa Peace Movement Center Chairman Hiroji Yamashiro will address infringements on freedom of expression in Okinawa.

Yamashiro to address infringements on Okinawans’ rights at UN Human Rights Council in June (May 30, 2017 Ryukyu Shimpo)

A single person, a world of difference (19 May 2017, Kaoru Yamaguchi, Amnesty International Japan)

The All Okinawa Council on Human Rights is accepting donations to cover the costs and travel expenses related to this symposium. Contributions can be made online at the following URL: https://japangiving.jp/campaigns/5192 (in Japanese)

Written Information Submitted for UPR (November 2017)

We submitted 4 sets of written information for the Summary of the Human Rights Situation in Japan to be prepared by the United Nations Office of High
Commissioner for Human Rights in cooperation with international NGOs.

1. Human Rights Situation in Japan with specific focus on the right to self-determination of indigenous people of Ryukyu/Okinawa

2. Human Rights Situation in Japan With specific focus on human rights in Okinawa (freedom of expression)

3. Human Rights Situation in Japan With specific focus on women’s and children’s human rights in Okinawa

4. Human Rights Situation in Japan With specific-focus on human rights in Okinawa (environment)

Joint Report "Silencing the Voices of Okinawans"

We released a report “Silencing the voices of Okinawans” with the International Movement Against All Forms of Discrimination and Racism (IMADR).

The joint report (3 February 2017) illustrates the systematic violation of freedom of expressions in Okinawa, addressing the following issues:

- The accelerating oppression on the protest activity;
- Riot police officer’s “Dojin” remark incident;
- Mainland media’s biased coverage of Okinawa;
- Issues related to human rights remedy system;
- The legal basis for a Yellow Line at the gates of U.S. military bases and its arbitrary application; and
- List of violence, detention and arrests in Henoko and Takae, Okinawa (2014-2017).

Joint Report "Silencing the Voices of Okinawans" (3 February 2017)

Joint Statement "Statement to Request the Release of Mr. Yamashiro Hiroji"

"Letter of Concern and Request: Inscription of Yanbaru Forest as a World Natural Heritage Site"

With Okinawa Environmental Justice Project and many other groups, we sent "Letter of Concern and Request: Inscription of Yanbaru Forest as a World Natural Heritage Site" to Ambassador Kennedy, Lt. Gen. Martinez, Lt. Gen. Nicholson, and Consul General Ehrendreich.

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