Joint NGO submission on Treaty Body Strengthening to UN Secretary-General (2019)

From 13 April to 1 May 2025, the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) held its 117th session. During the session, CERD reviewed and adopted concluding observations on the reports of Burkina Faso, Cuba, Cyprus, Serbia, Slovenia, and Uzbekistan. Highlights of the session included: List of issues prior to reporting for Tonga was adopted, and follow-up reports from Albania, Argentina, Brazil, Italy, Qatar, and Turkmenistan were reviewed. Under its Early Warning and Urgent Action procedures, three statements were issued on the adoption of the “Death Penalty for Terrorists Law” in Israel, the overrepresentation of Indigenous children in Australia’s criminal justice system, and the political participation of Indigenous […]

It has been 30 years since Japan acceded the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racism and Discrimination (ICERD). Considering the little progress the implementation of ICERD in the country, IMADR organised International Consultation on 16 March and Symposium on 17 March, bringing together experts on ICERD as well as representatives from a Korean NGO and stakeholders, to explore ways to advance human rights in Japan. Focusing on List of Issues Prior to Reporting (LOIPR) adopted by CERD in December 2025*, the International Consultation explored ways to achieve and strategies to build a society free from racism. The Symposium focused on initiatives to eliminate racial discrimination at […]

On the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the ICERD and the 30th anniversary of Japan’s accession, and welcoming the LOIPR of CERD to Japan, IMADR and partner NGOs jointly identify challenges we face in our work for the elimination of racial discrimination through the consultation with the Committee experts we invite, and make strategic plans for the next steps. It should give impacts and pressure to the Government in its preparation for its next periodic report to the Committee, to the politicians to work more on the issues of racism and discrimination and to the civil society to join us towards the elimination of racial discrimination. With Experts from […]

A list of issues prior to reporting (LOIPR) for Japan, containing 59 items, was adopted by the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) during its 116th session. IMADR and the Japan NGO Network for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (ERD-Net) contributed to this process by submitting joint NGO reports. ＊You can find LOIPR issued by CERD here. ▼ Download our report: Part A (highlighting legal framework in Japan; hate speech and hate crime; racial profiling) Part B (highlighting minorities, including Buraku people, Ainu Indigenous Peoples, people in the Ryukyus and other residents in Okinawa Prefecture, women belonging to minority groups, and returnees from China and their families) Part […]