News
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Joint NGO Statement: URGENT SUPPORT NEEDED FOR THE UN TREATY BODIES
Public Statement by Civil Society Organisations on the Occasion of the 37th Annual Meeting of the Chairpersons of the UN Human Rights Treaty Bodies 12 June 2025 The undersigned civil society organisations issue this statement at a time of profound crisis of the UN, and the human rights mechanisms in particular. The international human rights treaties are an essential part of the UN’s human rights ecosystem and form the legal backbone of the international human rights system. The work of the Treaty Bodies is crucial in monitoring States parties’ implementation of international human rights treaties and in providing authoritative guidance on the fulfilment of obligations. Treaty Bodies deliver justice to individual victims, […]June 16, 2025 -
Justice for Kazuo Ishikawa, Sayama Case
A rally calling for a retrial of the Sayama Case was held in Tokyo on May 23, the day Kazuo Ishikawa, then 24 years old, was falsely convicted of the murder of a high school girl in 1963. This Case underscores fundamental flaws in the Japanese criminal justice system and the discriminatory stereotyping against Buraku people. At the rally, many people, including his wife, defence team, lawyers, supporters and other victims of false accusations, gathered to call for the realisation of retrial and revision of retrial law as well as to express their condolences for Kazuo Ishikawa, who passed away on the 11th March 2025. With his death, the third […]May 27, 2025 -
CERD 115th session summary: Gabon, Kyrgyzstan, Mauritius, the Republic of Korea and Ukraine
From 22 April to 9 May 2025, the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) held its 115th session. During the session, CERD reviewed and adopted concluding observations on the reports of Gabon, Kyrgyzstan, Mauritius, the Republic of Korea and Ukraine. Highlights of the session included: Follow-up reports for Croatia, Germany, Morocco, Uruguay and Tajikistan were reviewed. Work was done to develop a joint general comment/recommendation on addressing and eradicating xenophobia and its impact on the rights of migrants, their families and other non-citizens affected by racial discrimination. A half-day general discussion to develop its general recommendation on reparations for the injustices of the transatlantic trade in enslaved […]May 14, 2025 -
【Event Recap】Act Now! Time to adopt anti-discrimination law in Japan
To celebrate the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (21 March), IMADR and the Japan NGO Network for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (ERD-Net) organised the event on 19 March 2025. Approximately 100 people participated, including the general public, members of Parliament and the media. (Photo: “Act Now! Time to adopt anti-discrimination law in Japan”) ICERD and Japan In 1995, Japan acceded to ICERD under the following conditions: Without adjusting the domestic legal framework as to support the implementation of the Convention With reservation to Article 4 (a) and (b) on the prohibition of hate speech Without declaring its acceptance of the competence of […]March 26, 2025 -
Recap on a Post-CEDAW Event
On 25 January, the Forum of Minority Women* organised an event in Osaka to reflect on and share insights from the recent review of the 9th periodic report of Japan by the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). A total of 120 people participated, both in person and online. ◾︎ CEDAW and Women from Marginalised Communities in Japan ◾︎ Firstly, how women from marginalised communities have made their presence and situation visible through their involvement in CEDAW was shared. In 1985, Japan ratified Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. In 2003 (the consideration of the fourth and fifth periodic reports), for the […]January 31, 2025 -
CERD 114th session summary:Armenia, Ecuador, Greece, Kenya, Monaco and Saudi Arabia
From 25 November to 13 December 2024, the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) held its 114th session. In this session, the Committee reviewed and adopted concluding observations on the reports of Armenia, Ecuador, Greece, Kenya, Monaco and Saudi Arabia as well as the list of issues prior to reporting (LOIPR) on Côte d’Ivoire, Malawi, and Seychelles. The Committee further adopted the follow-up report for Portugal. CERD also held joint in-person discussions with the Committee on Migrant Workers to develop a joint general comment/recommendation on addressing and eradicating xenophobia and its impact on the rights of migrants, their families and other non-citizens affected by racial discrimination in […]December 16, 2024 -
CERD 113th session summary: Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, the United Kingdom, and Venezuela
From 5 August to 23 August 2024, the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) held its 113th session. In this session, the Committee reviewed and adopted concluding observations on Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and Venezuela. Additionally, the Committee adopted its general recommendation no. 37 on racial discrimination and the enjoyment of the right to health. CERD also held discussions with the Committee on Migrant Workers to develop a joint general comment/recommendation on addressing and eradicating xenophobia and its impact on the rights of migrants, their families and other non-citizens affected by racial discrimination. As a […]August 29, 2024 -
IMADR Submitted Contribution to General Assembly Resolution A/RES/78/234
IMADR submitted inputs for General Assembly Resolution A/RES/78/234. Despite the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action (DDPA) to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance at a global level, such racially-motivated acts have been rising in many societies, affecting every aspect of life. Therefore, the purpose of this input is to inform the preparation of the 2024 report of the UN Secretary-General on the implementation of the UN General Assembly resolution A/RES/78/234 that will be presented to the 79th session of the UN General Assembly. GENERAL ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION A/RES/78/234 “A GLOBAL CALL FOR CONCRETE ACTION FOR THE ELIMINATION OF RACISM, RACIAL DISCRIMINATION XENOPHOBIA AND RELATED INTOLERANCE AND THE COMPREHENSIVE […]July 3, 2024 -
CERD 112th session summary: Albania, Mexico, Qatar, the Republic of Moldova and San Marino
From 8th April to 26th April 2024, the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) held its 112th session. In this session, the Committee reviewed and adopted concluding observations on Albania, Mexico, Qatar, the Republic of Moldova and San Marino. Additionally, the Committee reviewed two follow-up reports submitted by France and Georgia. Under its Early Warning and Urgent Action procedure, the Committee adopted a Decision on Sudan in relation to the rise in ethnic violence due to uprising hostilities between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces. It urged the Government to prevent further intensification of ethnic violence and racist hate speech. It also called on […]April 30, 2024 -
IMADR Submitted Contribution to the CERD- CMW Joint General Comment/ Recommendation
IMADR submitted inputs for the CERD- CMW Joint General Comment/ Recommendation. Nowadays, society has become more culturally diverse as human mobility becomes more active due to multiple social dimensions such as political, labour, and economic factors. On the other hand, xenophobia has been rising in many societies too, which impacts migrants, their families, and communities in various aspects of life. Therefore, this joint general comment/ recommendation aims to develop authoritative guidance for the State parties on public policies for addressing and eradicating xenophobia and its impacts on the rights of migrants, their families, and other non-citizens affected by racial discrimination. CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE CERD-CMW JOINT GENERAL COMMENT/RECOMMENDATION ON OBLIGATIONS […]April 23, 2024 -
One Hundred Years of Buraku Liberation Movement and International Solidarity
A new article, written by Kenzo Tomonaga, has been published! It is about the Buraku Liberation Movement and international solidarity. “In the present world, where everything is internationalized, it is impossible to discuss the solution of the Buraku issue without an international perspective. That is why it is clear that the activities for international solidarity by the Buraku liberation movement, which is the main actor for achieving the solution of the Buraku issue, play the most significant role. The Buraku liberation movement marked its 100th anniversary in March 2022. The movement has expanded its international solidarity ever since the establishment of the National Suiheisha (Levelers’ Association). In that sense, its […]April 4, 2024 -
Intersectional Feminism－ The Interview Series
Although the word, gender equality, is heard more frequently than ever, true gender equality will be realised solely when it is for ‘ALL’ women because women cannot be summed up to one as people have multiple identities. It is minority women whose voices are more silenced and whose rights are more restricted.. Yet, ‘minority women’ are not reducible to one too. Within the ‘minority women’, there is diversity and difference. In the interview series “Intersectional Feminism”, we have a conversation with activists of minority women about their experiences, activities, awareness, and so forth. This series features voices of women of minority groups to comprehend the extent of inequalities, how their […]March 29, 2024 -
21 March－International Day for Elimination of Racial Discrimination
Do you know what 21st March is known for? It is the international day to call for the elimination of all forms of racial discrimination. It all started more than 60 years ago, on 21 March 1960 when police officers opened fire on a peaceful demonstration against apartheid in Sharpeville, South Africa, killing 69 people¹. Let’s join and voice out, “Ｎo space for racism.” ▼ You can find more information below <Japanese version> ¹ OHCHR: https://www.ohchr.org/en/get-involved/stories/international-day-elimination-racial-discrimination.March 18, 2024 -
3rd March: 102nd Anniversary of Suiheisha Declaration
The Voices to Fight against Intersecting Forms of Discrimination －Women’s Suiheisha－ 8th March is the international women’s day to celebrate the achievements of women and to take actions for advancing women’s equality. Although the word, gender equality, is heard more frequently than ever, true gender equality will be realised solely when it is for ‘ALL’ women because women cannot be summed up to one as people have multiple identities. It is minority women whose voices are more silenced and whose rights are more restricted. 102 years before, on 3rd March 1922 national Suiheisha was founded declaring the emancipation of Burakumin whose dignity had been deprived of. In the following […]February 28, 2024
