Franciscans InternationalFI submits UPR report on Japan
UPR of Japan will take place in October 2012
In preparation for the UPR session in October 2012, FI submitted a UPR report on Japan in collaboration with the Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd. The main issues addressed in the submission are rights of migrant workers, foreigners/foreign residents, asylum seekers and refugees, violence against women with a specific focus on “comfort women”, children’s rights and statelessness.
For this second UPR cycle FI made several key concrete recommendations including a call on the Government of Japan to refrain from using detention as a means to address the situation of undocumented migrant workers and explore alternative methods; to discontinue the use of the Hotline Programme against migrants, foreigners, asylum seekers and refugees, a policy which incites racial discrimination and xenophobia; to bring the perpetrators of domestic violence to justice and provide redress and protection for the victims.
With regard to the death penalty, FI urges the Government of Japan to begin a nationwide dialogue about the death penalty with the aim to engage various stakeholders including academics, family members of victims, and civil society groups in the campaign for the abolition of capital punishment.