DOCSLIB.ORG

Business and Human Right Holding Governments Accountable in Asia 12-13 JULY 2018 BANGKOK THAILAND CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Business and Human Right Holding Governments Accountable in Asia 12-13 JULY 2018 BANGKOK THAILAND CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS 3RD INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE Business and Human Right Holding Governments Accountable in Asia 12-13 JULY 2018 BANGKOK THAILAND CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS 3RD INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE BUSINESS AND HUMAN RIGHTS HOLDING GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABLE IN ASIA 12-13 July 2018 Bangkok Thailand 1 PREFACE Experts from around the world have analysed the multifaceted linkages between business operations and international human rights norms but circled back to point out the duty of the state as the key actor in the protection of human rights. They highlighted policy and legislative challenges affecting the capacity of states to uphold such norms as stipulated in Pillar One of the UN Guiding Principles (UNGPs) on Business and Human Rights. With increasing attention to the issues of business and human rights, the role of government in human rights protection is increasingly important for the economies in the region. These issues led to Asia Centre’s 3rd International Conference, in partnership with Forum Asia, Thammasat University ASEAN-China program and support from the Taiwan Democracy Foundation titled “Business and Human Rights: Holding Governments Accountable in Asia”. The event was held from the 12th to the 13th of July 2018, in Bangkok, Thailand. During the two days, the conference hosted nine panels with over 20 presenters and over fifty participants from a variety of organisations including universities, NGOs and INGOs who came together to discuss the issue of business and human rights in Asia. The focus was to examine if the interest in business and human rights conveniently ignores the civil and political violations by the State and its responsibility to guarantee human rights protection. The papers in this conference proceedings examine the duty of the state to protect human rights and regulate the behaviour of business organisations through a regional assessment of the issues, review of national strategies and policies, and the accountability of businesses themselves. All papers in this conference proceedings have been internally peer-reviewed and administered by the editors. The authors are responsible for the accuracy of facts, quotation, data, statements and the quality of the English language in their work. The papers are organised in the way it appeared in the conference program. This conference was followed up by Asia Centre’s publication: “Business and Human Rights in Asia: Duty of The State to Protect”. It is set to be released at the end of 2020. The authors of this book examine the State’s duty to protect human rights in Asia amidst rising concern over the human rights impact of business organisations in Asia. Click here for more info. 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. Golda S. Benjamin, National Action Plans on Business and Human Rights in the ASEAN: Observations and Recommendations on the Procedural Aspects of NAP Development 5 2. Iman Prihandono, Recent Development on the Access to Remedy in Business and Human Rights in Indonesia 21 3. Saul Takahashi, All Carrots and No Stick: Human Rights Regulation of Companies in Japan 38 4. Nukila Evanty & Nurul Ghufron, Multinational Corporations and Human Rights 53 5. Dheeraj, Analysing National Voluntary Guidelines with particular focus on human rights commitments of Top 100 listed companies in India based on disclosures in public 64 6. Jonathan Rhodes, Learning From Map Tha Phut: A Look At Government Priorities 74 7. Bongkot Lochaya, The Impact of the Government Transparency on the Success of Myanmar’s Dawei Deep Seaport & Industrial Estate Development project 92 8. Daniel Polomski, Towards an Empirical Understanding of Ethical Consumption in Southeast Asia 107 9. Yesaya Sandang, Tourism and Human Rights: A Study towards Indonesia Tourism Regulation 125 10. Matthew Storey, A rock and a soft place? International resource corporations, a State’s right to development of natural resources and Indigenous Peoples right to Free, Prior and Informed Consent under the Laws of the Republic of the Philippines and Western Australia 142 11. Ing Hoe Loh, Sarawak Palm Oil and the Denial of Iban’s Customary Land 1 190 12. Socheata Sao, The Current State of Affairs for Access to Remedy for People and Communities Affected by Alleged Arbitrary Takings of Land in the Agribusiness Industry in ASEAN 195 13.Carlos & Francisco Rabassó, Holistic Learning In “Maternalistic” Management Educational Environment as a Way to Close the Gender Gap in 3 South East Asia. The Case of Thailand 217 14.Robert Sadleir, "Designing a Human Rights Management Systems Standard framed by the Value of Human Life: a practical approach to business enterprise human rights in Asia" 235 4 National Action Plans on Business and Human Rights in the ASEAN: Observations and Recommendations on the Procedural Aspects of NAP Development Golda Benjamin & Bobbie Sta. Maria Business & Human Rights Resource Centre Abstract This report compiles our observations and lessons learned on the procedural aspects of the development of national action plans on business and human rights (NAPs or NAP BHR) in ASEAN member-states. In this report, we highlight practices from Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, and Thailand and offer analyses on practical issues that could support other countries that are developing their own NAPs. The report also includes our recommendations on elements and steps that could help ensure inclusive processes, strong action plans, and clear commitments towards implementation. I. Introduction In 2011, the United Nations Human Rights Council endorsed the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGP) to help clarify the roles of governments and companies in addressing the human rights impacts of business enterprises. The UNGPs are founded on the following: 1. States' existing obligations to respect, protect, and fulfil human rights and fundamental freedoms; 2. The role of business enterprises as specialized organs of society performing specialized functions, required to comply with all applicable laws and to respect human rights; 3. The need for rights and obligations to be matched with appropriate and effective remedies when breached. The UNGPs are implemented through various means, such as introducing relevant legislation and policies, changing corporate policy and practice, and providing remedies for victims of business-linked human rights abuses. Likewise, states implement the UNGPs through the development of national action plans on business and human rights (NAPs or NAP BHR). The UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights' Guidance on National Action Plans on Business and Human Rights defines a NAP as an "evolving policy strategy developed by a State to protect against adverse human rights impacts by business enterprises in conformity with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights."1 1 UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights, Guidance on National Action Plans on Business and Human Rights (Geneva, 2016), available from http://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Issues/Business/ UNWG_NAPGuidance.pdf . 5 The development of NAPs in ASEAN is encouraging increased interaction among governments, civil society, and businesses—albeit with some groups still being heard more than others, and others still being totally excluded. Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, and Malaysia have made significant progress towards developing a NAP on BHR. The idea has also been introduced in other countries, such as Myanmar, with various CSOs leading the call for a process that meets international standards and best practice. Multi-stakeholder participation is critical in ensuring that NAPs are inclusive, rights-based, and victim-centered. ASEAN governments in the process of developing NAPs could all do better to ensure broader participation of communities, workers, and companies. II. Country commitments to the UNGPs as the foundation of NAPs The UNWG on BHR has emphasized that it is essential and indispensable for an effective NAP to be founded on the UNGPs. It said: As an instrument to implement the UNGPs, NAPs need to adequately reflect a State's duties under international human rights law to protect against adverse business-related human rights impacts and provide effective access to remedy. A NAP further needs to promote business respect for human rights including through due diligence processes and corporate measures to allow for access to remedy. Moreover, NAPs must be underpinned by the core human rights principles of non-discrimination and equality.2 Thus, recommendations under NAPs should address the three pillars of the UNGP under its "Protect, Respect, and Remedy" framework:3 1. The state duty to protect against human rights abuses by third parties, including business; 2. The corporate responsibility to respect human rights; and 3. Greater access by victims to effective remedy, both judicial and non-judicial. Based on these pillars, countries developing NAPs need to bring together stakeholders from government, businesses, and civil society in a process that should be constructive and solutions-centered. These actors usually encounter each other in more tense contexts where human rights abuses are being alleged and victims/survivors are seeking redress. The NAP process is a unique platform to address human rights issues before abuses occur, with proposals ideally coming from all key stakeholders. 2 Id. 3 John Ruggie, UN “Protect, Respect and Remedy” Framework and Guiding Principles” (2008), https:// www.business-humanrights.org/en/un-secretary-generals-special-representative-on-business-human-rights/un- protect-respect-and-remedy-framework-and-guiding-principles
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Learning from Japan? Interpretations of Honda Motors by Strategic Management Theorists
    Are cross-shareholdings of Japanese corporations dissolving? Evolution and implications MITSUAKI OKABE NISSAN OCCASIONAL PAPER SERIES NO. 33 2001 NISSAN OCCASIONAL PAPER SERIES FULL LIST OF PAST PAPERS No.1 Yamanouchi Hisaaki, Oe Kenzaburô and Contemporary Japanese Literature. No.2 Ishida Takeshi, The Introduction of Western Political concepts into Japan. No.3 Sandra Wilson, Pro-Western Intellectuals and the Manchurian Crisis. No.4 Asahi Jôji, A New Conception of Technology Education in Japan. No.5 R John Pritchard, An Overview of the Historical Importance of the Tokyo War Trial. No.6 Sir Sydney Giffard, Change in Japan. No.7 Ishida Hiroshi, Class Structure and Status Hierarchies in Contemporary Japan. No.8 Ishida Hiroshi, Robert Erikson and John H Goldthorpe, Intergenerational Class Mobility in Post-War Japan. No.9 Peter Dale, The Myth of Japanese Uniqueness Revisited. No.10 Abe Shirô, Political Consciousness of Trade Union Members in Japan. No.11 Roger Goodman, Who’s Looking at Whom? Japanese, South Korean and English Educational Reform in Comparative Perspective. No.12 Hugh Richardson, EC-Japan Relations - After Adolescence. No.13 Sir Hugh Cortazzi, British Influence in Japan Since the End of the Occupation (1952-1984). No.14 David Williams, Reporting the Death of the Emperor Showa. No.15 Susan Napier, The Logic of Inversion: Twentieth Century Japanese Utopias. No.16 Alice Lam, Women and Equal Employment Opportunities in Japan. No.17 Ian Reader, Sendatsu and the Development of Contemporary Japanese Pilgrimage. No.18 Watanabe Osamu, Nakasone Yasuhiro and Post-War Conservative Politics: An Historical Interpretation. No.19 Hirota Teruyuki, Marriage, Education and Social Mobility in a Former Samurai Society after the Meiji Restoration.
    [Show full text]
  • Employment Policies and Labor Union Activities for Part-Time Workers and Dispatched Workers in Japan
    Upjohn Institute Press Employment Policies and Labor Union Activities for Part-Time Workers and Dispatched Workers in Japan Kazunari Honda Kokugakuin University Chapter 8 (pp. 241-268) in: The Shadow Workforce: Perspectives on Contingent Work in the United States, Japan, and Europe Sandra E. Gleason, ed. Kalamazoo, MI: W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research, 2006 DOI: 10.17848/9781429454889.ch8 Copyright ©2006. W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research. All rights reserved. 8 Employment Policies and Labor Union Activities for Part-Time Workers and Dispatched Workers in Japan Kazunari Honda Kokugakuin University This chapter discusses part-time workers and workers dispatched to client companies by temporary employment agencies from the view- point of government employment policies and labor union activities in Japan. Although there are several types of nonregular employment in Japan, part-time and dispatched workers hired through temporary em- ployment agencies are, respectively, the largest and most rapidly grow- ing groups. Government and unions concentrate their policies, employ- ment services, and activities on these two groups in the labor force.1 This chapter also provides an overview of the governmental insti- tutional framework for the employment policies of the Japanese Min- istry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW, formerly the Ministry of Labour, MOL) for part-time and dispatched workers. It discusses the content of the Part-Time Work Law (PWL) designed to protect the eco- nomic welfare of part-time employees and employer efforts to imple- ment the law, and reviews the main features and recent reforms of the Worker Dispatching Law (WDL) that legalized temporary employment agencies in Japan.
    [Show full text]
  • Caught Between Hope and Despair: an Analysis of the Japanese Criminal Justice System
    Denver Journal of International Law & Policy Volume 31 Number 4 Fall Article 2 April 2020 Caught between Hope and Despair: An Analysis of the Japanese Criminal Justice System Melissa Clack Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.du.edu/djilp Recommended Citation Melissa Clack, Caught between Hope and Despair: An Analysis of the Japanese Criminal Justice System, 31 Denv. J. Int'l L. & Pol'y 525 (2003). This Article is brought to you for free and open access by Digital Commons @ DU. It has been accepted for inclusion in Denver Journal of International Law & Policy by an authorized editor of Digital Commons @ DU. For more information, please contact [email protected],[email protected]. CAUGHT BETWEEN HOPE AND DESPAIR: AN ANALYSIS OF THE JAPANESE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM Melissa Clack* INTRODUCTION While handcuffed, shackled, forced to excrete in their own clothes, personally bathed by the warden, sleep deprived, food deprived, bribed with cigarettes or food, and, in some cases, "accidentally" killed, a suspect in Japan is interrogated and the world is beginning to acknowledge that such procedures amount to a violation of human rights.' Adopted December 10, 1948, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was the first international statement to use the term "human rights" and to recognize the right to be free from torture, arbitrary arrest, as well as the right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty. 2 Although the International community has concluded that suspects 3 should be commonly afforded particular rights, there are many disparities from country to country as to what rights are actually guaranteed.4 Overall, industrialized nations afford more rights than do developing countries, with one exception.5 Japan, unlike most * Bachelor of Criminal Justice and B.A.
    [Show full text]
  • Legal Protection for Migrant Trainees in Japan: Using International Standards to Evaluate Shifts in Japanese Immigration Policy
    10_BHATTACHARJEE (DO NOT DELETE) 10/14/2014 8:20 PM LEGAL PROTECTION FOR MIGRANT TRAINEES IN JAPAN: USING INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS TO EVALUATE SHIFTS IN JAPANESE IMMIGRATION POLICY SHIKHA SILLIMAN BHATTACHARJEE* Japan’s steady decline in population since 2005, combined with the low national birth rate, has led to industrial labor shortages, particularly in farming, fishing, and small manufacturing industries. 1 Japan’s dual labor market structure leaves smaller firms and subcontractors with labor shortages in times of both economic growth and recession. 2 As a result, small-scale manufacturers and employers in these industries are increasingly reliant upon foreign workers, particularly from China, Vietnam, Indonesia, and the Philippines.3 Temporary migration programs, designed to allow migrant workers to reside and work in a host country without creating a permanent entitlement to residence, have the potential to address the economic needs of both sending and receiving countries.4 In fact, the United Nations Global Commission on International Migration recommends: “states and the private sector should consider the option of introducing carefully designed temporary migration programmes as a means of addressing the economic needs of both countries of origin and destination.”5 “Most high- * Shikha Silliman Bhattacharjee is a Fellow in the Asia Division at Human Rights Watch. 1 Apichai Shipper, Contesting Foreigner’s Rights in Contemporary Japan, N.C. J. INT’L L. & COM. REG., 505-06 (2011). 2 Ritu Vij, Review, 64 J. ASIAN STUD. 469-71 (May 2005) (reviewing HIROSHI KOMAI, FOREIGN MIGRANTS IN CONTEMPORARY JAPAN (2001)). 3 Shipper, supra note 1, at 506. 4 This definition does not exclude the possibility that migrants admitted to host countries may be granted permanent residence.
    [Show full text]
  • Labour Market Institutionalisation in Japan and the Netherlands
    THE DYNAMICS BETWEEN REGULAR AND NON-REGULAR EMPLOYMENT: LABOUR MARKET INSTITUTIONALISATION IN JAPAN AND THE NETHERLANDS February 2008 Arjan B. Keizer Bradford University School of Management Japan Institute for Labour Policy and Training [email protected] Contents 1 Introduction 2 Study design 3 The character of Japanese employment practices 4 Performance-related pay (Seikashugi) 4.1 Case-study: Competency system at a major electronics firm 4.2 Implications 5 The rise in non-regular employment 5.1 Case-study: personnel system for part-timers at a major supermarket chain 5.2 Implications 6 The institutional character of change 7 Another example of institutionalisation: the Netherlands 7.1 The early rise of non-regular employment 7.2 Support for non-regular employment by unions and state 7.3 The implications for regular and non-regular employment 8 Comparison of labour market outcomes between Japan and the Netherlands 9 Limitations and suggestions for future research 10 References Acknowledgements This paper is a first result of research made possible by the Japan Institute for Labour Policy and Training through its Foreign Researcher Invitation Program. I would therefore like to express my sincere thanks to the Institute and its members for the provided opportunity and support, with a special word of thanks to Masumi Seto, Keiko Iida, Kazuya Ogura, and Sumio Sakai. 1 1. Introduction Recent decades have seen major changes in the employment practices of industrialised economies. A fundamental change has been the rise in non-regular (part-time, temporary, dispatched) employment (e.g. Felstead and Jewson, 1999; Auer and Cazes, 2003).
    [Show full text]
  • The Legalization of Hinomaru and Kimigayo As Japan's National Flag
    The legalization of Hinomaru and Kimigayo as Japan's national flag and anthem and its connections to the political campaign of "healthy nationalism and internationalism" Marit Bruaset Institutt for østeuropeiske og orientalske studier, Universitetet i Oslo Vår 2003 Introduction The main focus of this thesis is the legalization of Hinomaru and Kimigayo as the national flag and anthem of Japan in 1999 and its connections to what seems to be an atypical Japanese form of postwar nationalism. In the 1980s a campaign headed by among others Prime Minister Nakasone was promoted to increase the pride of the Japanese in their nation and to achieve a “transformation of national consciousness”.1 Its supporters tended to use the term “healthy nationalism and internationalism”. When discussing the legalization of Hinomaru and Kimigayo as the national flag and anthem of Japan, it is necessary to look into the nationalism that became evident in the 1980s and see to what extent the legalization is connected with it. Furthermore we must discuss whether the legalization would have been possible without the emergence of so- called “healthy nationalism and internationalism”. Thus it is first necessary to discuss and try to clarify the confusing terms of “healthy nationalism and patriotism”. Secondly, we must look into why and how the so-called “healthy nationalism and internationalism” occurred and address the question of why its occurrence was controversial. The field of education seems to be the area of Japanese society where the controversy regarding its occurrence was strongest. The Ministry of Education, Monbushō, and the Japan Teachers' Union, Nihon Kyōshokuin Kumiai (hereafter Nikkyōso), were the main opponents struggling over the issue of Hinomaru, and especially Kimigayo, due to its lyrics praising the emperor.
    [Show full text]
  • Civil Society and the State in Democratic East Asia
    PROTEST AND SOCIAL MOVEMENTS Chiavacci, (eds) Grano & Obinger Civil Society and the State in Democratic East Asia East Democratic in State the and Society Civil Edited by David Chiavacci, Simona Grano, and Julia Obinger Civil Society and the State in Democratic East Asia Between Entanglement and Contention in Post High Growth Civil Society and the State in Democratic East Asia Protest and Social Movements Recent years have seen an explosion of protest movements around the world, and academic theories are racing to catch up with them. This series aims to further our understanding of the origins, dealings, decisions, and outcomes of social movements by fostering dialogue among many traditions of thought, across European nations and across continents. All theoretical perspectives are welcome. Books in the series typically combine theory with empirical research, dealing with various types of mobilization, from neighborhood groups to revolutions. We especially welcome work that synthesizes or compares different approaches to social movements, such as cultural and structural traditions, micro- and macro-social, economic and ideal, or qualitative and quantitative. Books in the series will be published in English. One goal is to encourage non- native speakers to introduce their work to Anglophone audiences. Another is to maximize accessibility: all books will be available in open access within a year after printed publication. Series Editors Jan Willem Duyvendak is professor of Sociology at the University of Amsterdam. James M. Jasper teaches at the Graduate Center of the City University of New York. Civil Society and the State in Democratic East Asia Between Entanglement and Contention in Post High Growth Edited by David Chiavacci, Simona Grano, and Julia Obinger Amsterdam University Press Published with the support of the Swiss National Science Foundation.
    [Show full text]
  • Lesbians in Japan and South Korea
    Her Story: Lesbians in Japan and South Korea Elise Fylling EAST 4590 – Master’s Thesis in East Asian Studies African and Asian Studies 60 credits – spring 2012 Department of Culture Studies and Oriental Languages Faculty of Humanities University of Oslo Her Story: Lesbians in Japan and South Korea Master’s thesis, Elise Fylling © Elise Fylling 2012 Her Story: Lesbians in Japan and South Korea Elise Fylling Academic supervisor: Vladimir Tikhonov http://www.duo.uio.no Printed by: Webergs Printshop Summary Lesbians in Japan and South Korea have long been ignored in both academic, and in social context. The assumption that there are no lesbians in Japan or South Korea dominates a large population in these societies, because lesbians do not identify as such in the public domain. Instead they often live double lives showing one side of themselves to the public and another in private. Although there exist no formal laws against homosexuality, a social barrier in relation to coming out to one’s family, friends or co-workers is highly present. Shame, embarrassment and fear of being rejected as deviant or abnormal makes it difficult to step outside of the bonds put on by society’s hetero-normative structures. What is it like to be lesbian in contemporary Japan and South Korea? In my dissertation I look closely at the Japanese and South Korean society’s attitudes towards young lesbians, examining their experiences concerning identity, invisibility, family relations, the question of marriage and how they see themselves in society. I also touch upon how they meet others in spite of their invisibility as well as giving some insight to the way they chose to live their life.
    [Show full text]
  • A Collective Agreement Is Not Inherently Anticompetitive in Japan: Trade Unions, Self-Employed Workers and the Antimonopoly Act
    DRAFT A Collective Agreement is Not Inherently Anticompetitive in Japan: Trade Unions, Self-Employed Workers and the Antimonopoly Act Masako Wakui Introduction In Japan, convenience store franchisees form unions in order to negotiate with their franchisors. Online shopping mall operators selling their goods through the online platform Rakuten have also established unions to oppose its oppressive terms and conditions.1 In addition, gig workers such as Uber Eats drivers recently formed a union.2 Meanwhile, unions also exist for athletes, sole traders in the construction industry and freelancers such as screen writers. Most are similar to employees in that they mainly sell their labour to earn a living, are economically dependent on buyers and in a weak bargaining position relative to them. However, they tend to be categorised as sole traders or ‘self-employed person’, and it is not clear whether they constitute ‘workers’ whose rights to unionise are protected under the law. A further legal complication is whether their activities constitute a violation of competition law in Japan, known as the Antimonopoly Act (AMA),3 and are thus subject to the oversight of the Japanese Fair Trade Commission (JFTC), which is the authority that administers the AMA. The Japanese Constitution4 and the Labour Union Act (LUA)5guarantee the workers’ right to associate, to bargain collectively and to engage in strikes. The AMA is not applicable to these practices. However, this inapplicability hinges on the definition of ‘workers’ under the LUA. The LUA jurisprudence uses a multi-factor test to determine if the union members are Professor, Kyoto University Faculty of Law.
    [Show full text]
  • The Burakumin Myth of Everyday Life: Reformulating Identity In
    From Subnational to Micronational: Buraku Communities and Transformations in Identity in Modern and Contemporary Japan Rositsa Mutafchieva East Asian Studies McGill University, Montreal April 2009 A thesis submitted to McGill University in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the PhD degree © Rositsa Mutafchieva 2009 1 Table of Contents Abstract ......................................................................................................................... 3 Acknowledgements ..................................................................................................... 5 Introduction: Burakumin: A Minority in Flux ............................................................ 8 Chapter One: Moments in the History of Constructing Outcast Spaces ......... 19 Chapter Two: Three Buraku Communitiees, Three Different Stories ............... 52 Chapter Three: Instructions Given: ―Building a Nation = Building a Community‖ .............................................................................................................. 112 Chapter Four: The Voices of the Buraku ............................................................. 133 Chapter Five: ―Community Building‖ Revisited................................................... 157 Conclusion ................................................................................................................ 180 Appendix ................................................................................................................... 192 Bibliography.............................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • University of Cincinnati
    UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI _____________ , 20 _____ I,______________________________________________, hereby submit this as part of the requirements for the degree of: ________________________________________________ in: ________________________________________________ It is entitled: ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________ Approved by: ________________________ ________________________ ________________________ ________________________ ________________________ PUCCINI’S USE OF JAPANESE MELODIES IN MADAMA BUTTERFLY A thesis submitted to the Division of Research and Advanced Studies of the University of Cincinnati in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF MUSIC in the Division of Composition, Musicology, and Theory of the College-Conservatory of Music 2003 by Kunio Hara B.M., University of Cincinnati, 2000 Committee Chair: Dr. Hilary Poriss ABSTRACT One of the more striking aspects of exoticism in Puccini’s Madama Butterfly is the extent to which the composer incorporated Japanese musical material in his score. From the earliest discussion of the work, musicologists have identified many Japanese melodies and musical characteristics that Puccini used in this work. Some have argued that this approach indicates Puccini’s preoccupation with creating an authentic Japanese setting within his opera; others have maintained that Puccini wanted to produce an exotic atmosphere
    [Show full text]
  • The Japanese Workers' Committee for Human Rights (JWCHR) and the Organization to Support the Lawsuits for Freedom of Education in Tokyo
    THE JAPANESE WORKERS’ COMMITTEE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS - JWCHR NGO in Special Consultative Status with ECOSOC c/o Tokyo Regional Council of Trade Unions – TOKYO CHIHYO 2-33-10 Minami-Otsuka, Toshima-ku, Tokyo 170-0005 Japan Tel: +81-3-3943-2420 Fax: +81-3-3943-2431 e-mail: [email protected] Joint Report Improve the Low Level of Human Rights in Japan to the International Level! JWCHR report April, 2012 for the 2nd UPR of Japan Jointly prepared by the Japanese Workers' Committee for Human Rights (JWCHR) and the Organization to Support the Lawsuits for Freedom of Education in Tokyo JWCHR submitted a report for the first review of Japan by UPR, where two of our members participated in the working session to watch the progress. On that occasion, UPR secretariat kindly distributed all the reports submitted by 23 Japanese NGOs, to which we would like to express our deep respect for their hard work. We are also grateful to those member states of the Human Rights Counc il who, despite their close political and economical relation with the Government of Japan, reviewed the NGO reports and offered appropriated recommendations. However, it is regrettable that the Government of Japan does not make meaningful efforts to improve the situation nor to heed the recommendations. JWHCR submit our report to the second UPR of Japan including some additional information. The Government has not taken measures to correct the situation over a long period of time on the matters recommended by various Governments in connection with relevant human rights conventions and treaties.
    [Show full text]