News

Together with All Okinawa Council for Human Rights, IMADR released a report “Silencing the voices of Okinawans”, which illustrates the systematic violation of freedom of expressions in Okinawa. The report addresses 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). Download the full report here Japanese version 

On 24th January, national and international human rights organisations urged the Government of Japan to immediately release the prominent peace activist in Okinawa, Mr. YAMASHIRO Hiroji. Mr. Yamashiro has been detained for over 3 months since October 2016. Read the joint statement below or download here.  Statement in Japanese  is also available. ——— January 24th, 2017 To: Chief Justice of Supreme Court of Japan Prosecutor – General Statement to Request the Release of Mr. Yamashiro Hiroji Mr. Yamashiro Hiroji, one of the leaders of nonviolent peace movement in Okinawa, was arrested for a quasi-flagrant offence on October 17th, 2016 and has been in detention for more than two months. While the repulsion among Okinawan people grew […]

On 13 January, civil society of Sri Lanka, including the IMADR Asia Committee, sent a joint letter to the Members States of the UN Human Rights Council which demands the extension of  the duration of the resolution ‘Promoting Reconciliation, Accountability and Human Rights in Sri Lanka (A/HRC/30/1). Read the letter below or download here. . ——— 13th January 2017 To: Members States of the United Nations Human Rights Council CONTINUED SUPPORT ON SRI LANKA We, the undersigned activists, academics and organisations from Sri Lanka, write this letter in the lead up to the 34th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) at which Sri Lanka is to be taken up for discussion […]

The UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) has recently urged the Government of Japan to take further actions to address the issues of violence against foreign and minority women, “comfort women” and the situation of Burakumin. In the letter to the Government of Japan , the CERD expressed the lack of satisfaction and pointed out shortcomings of the Government’s measures. During its 91st session, the CERD considered the follow-up report of the Government of Japan . The Government was requested to take immediate measures to implement the three recommendations on the abovementioned issues within one year of the adoption of the 2014 concluding observations (CERD/C/JPN/CO/7-9) . Japan NGO Network for the Elimination of Racial […]

The International Movement Against All Forms of Discrimination and Racism, or IMADR, welcomes the enactment of the Act on the Promotion of the Elimination of Buraku Discrimination on December 9, 2016. It is important to note that the Act recognizes the still existing Buraku discrimination in today’s Japan and declares the unacceptableness of Buraku discrimination that impedes the enjoyment of fundamental human rights.  It is also important that the Act clarifies responsibilities of the state as well as local public corporations in eliminating Buraku discrimination through the provision of advice and support in regard to Buraku discrimination in the consolidated mechanism and the promotion of appropriate education and awareness-raising. While congratulating […]

On 15 December, we have issued our new issue of E-CONNECT. If you have not subscribed to our newsletter, you ca do it from here! Back number is also available. Feature story Global civil society joins hands with UN to end racial discrimination On 23rd November, civil society from all over the world, including indigenous and minority groups, met with the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD). Civil society representatives shared their challenges in own country and region, and put ideas in order to improve the work of the CERD to achieve the goal of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. IMADR […]

On 9th December, the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) concluded its 91st session. At the session, the CERD adopted concluding observations of Argentina, Italy, Portugal, Togo, Turkmenistan and Uruguay. *Recommendations with asterisks [*] are one-year follow-up recommendations Concluding observations, reports of the State parties and other stakeholders are available at the OHCHR website . You can also watch the video archives of the public meetings with the State parties at UN Web TV . _ Argentina Poverty among the indigenous and Afro-decent communities drew attention of the Committee. Concerning the situation of indigenous peoples, the issues of land rights, right to water , access to justice, free and prior informed consent and the situation of human rights […]

On 23 November 2016, civil society from all over the world, including indigenous and minority groups, met with the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD). Civil society representatives from every region of the world shared their experiences and ideas in order to improve the work of the CERD to achieve the goal of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. Visit the CERD webpage  for the programme and further information of the event. Participants exchanged views based on three questions:  1. What are the key challenges and issues of racial discrimination in your country/region today and how do you work to address them? 2. […]

Together with Minority Rights Group International (MRG), IMADR is organising a breakfast event on “Informal Exchange with Prof. Thornberry on his Commentary of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD)” during the 91st session of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) from 8:30 am, Friday 25th November at Room 1-016 in Palais Wilson. For further information, click on the flyer below.

Together with Minority Rights Group International (MRG) and Race and Equality, IMADR presented a joint response for the consultation of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) with civil society “Joining hands to end racial discrimination”  on 23rd November 2016. The joint response  seeks to respond to one of the questions raised by the Committee, “How can the CERD improve and enhance its engagement with civil society, and its work on racial discrimination for greater impact on the ground?”. It examined different follow-up mechanism of the existing treaty bodies on recommendations in order to identify areas where the CERD can further strengthen its cooperation with civil society to achieve the full implementation of the International Convention on […]

Professor Rodolfo Stavenhagen, one of IMADR board members, passed away on November  5, 2016 in Cuernavaca, Mexico. He was 84 years old. As a sociologist, researcher and human rights defender, Rodolfo dedicated his life to the realization of human rights of indigenous peoples and minorities in the world. We have lost a great human rights defender, but he will be in our memories. Goodbye Rodolfo! Messages from the Board of Directors  “I wish before anything else to express my deepest condolence to the family and to the close colleagues of Rodolfo. He has been a mentor for me since the end of the 1970s when he joined the UN Programme on human […]

Today civil society activists and organisations, including IMADR Asia Committee, sent a joint letter in expressing deeps concerns on the Government of Sri Lanka’s plans to indefinitely delay the establishment of the proposed accountability mechanism. Read the letter below or download here in English, Tamil and Shinhala. . ——— 03rd November, 2016 Dear Mr. Tittawella, We wish to register our deep concern with regard to the government’s plans to indefinitely delay the establishment of the proposed accountability mechanism, by sequencing the mechanisms in a way that establishes the accountability mechanism after having established all the other mechanisms. This sequencing approach has most recently been expressed in a document circulated by the Secretariat for Coordinating Reconciliation […]

The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) invites civil society organisations to attend its Consultation titled “Joining hands to end racial discrimination” during the 91st session on 23 November 2016 from 15:00 to 18:00 at the Palais des Nations, Conference Room XX. The objective of the Consultations is to explore new and innovative ways for the Committee to work with civil society organizations to strengthen the implementation of the Convention. The Consultation will include discussions on three guiding questions outlined below. The Committee is requesting written responses from civil society organisations via email to cerd@ohchr.org with the subject consultation by 14 November 2016. Questions: 1. What are the key challenges and […]

UN Special Rapporteur on minority issues, Rita Izsák-Ndiaye, concluded her mission to Sri Lanka on 20th October 2016. In her end of the mission statement , she recommended the Government of Sri Lanka to establish an Independent Commission on Minorities under the Constitution which can conduct: reviewing and proposing domestic standards and providing expertise and information to legislation drafting and policy-making processes; monitoring laws and policies with respect to minority rights and recommending amendments or implementation measures; encouraging and coordinating programming on minority issues and strategies devised to address problems relating to minorities; promotion and education activities; developing good practice guides, information resources and reports; developing campaigns and outreach relating to minority rights; forming […]

On 4 October, we have issued our new issue of E-CONNECT. If you have not subscribed to our newsletter, you ca do it from here! Back number is also available. Feature story UN urge USA to end impunity for State violence against African Americans UN Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent presented its country visit report to the USA at the 33rd session of the Human Rights Council. The Working Group stated in the report that it “remains extremely concerned about the human rights situation of African Americans”, urging the Government to take measures against racial bias and disparities in the criminal justice system and structural racial discrimination. On […]

Following the country visit of the UN Special Rapporteur on the freedom of opinion and expression to Japan in April this year , IMADR and All Okinawa Council for Human Rights released the joint report “Targeted attack on freedom of expression in Okinawa”.    The report identified disproportionate restrictions on the freedom of expression in Okinawa including surveillance and excessive use of force against protesters, violation of the press freedom as well as persistent oppressive comments by government officials against the Okinawan media.