JFBA/17/13 March 11, 2013 Japan Federation of Bar Associations Japan Federation of Bar Associations Report of JFBA Regarding the Third Periodic Report by the Government of Japan under Articles 16 and 17 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights January 18, 2013 JAPAN FEDERATION OF BAR ASSOCIATIONS 1-3, KASUMIGASEKI 1-CHOME, CHIYODA-KU, TOKYO 100-0013 JAPAN TEL: +81 3 3580 9741 FAX: +81 3 3580 9840 Email: [email protected] URL: www.nichibenren.or.jp 1 Contents Foreword ........................................................................................................................................... 5 Discussion by Article of the Covenant .............................................................................................. 6 Article 1 - Right of Self-Determination ............................................................................... 6 A. The Ainu ...................................................................................................................... 6 B. Okinawan Issues .......................................................................................................... 7 Article 2 - Treaty Entrenchment and Non-Discrimination ................................................ 9 A. Legal Characteristics of the Covenant and its Functions ............................................... 9 B. The Principle of Prohibition on the Retrogressive Measures ........................................ 10 C. Teaching and Training Programs on Human Rights .................................................... 11 D. Government Responsibility toward Human Rights Infringements Caused by International Cooperation and International Activities of Private Entities such as Corporations .................................................................................................................... 11 E. Issue of Unratified Major International Conventions .................................................. 12 F. Civil Legal Aid System ............................................................................................... 12 G. Discrimination against Buraku ................................................................................... 14 H. National Human Rights Institutions ........................................................................... 15 Article 3 - Equal Rights of Men and Women .................................................................... 17 A. Definition of Discrimination ....................................................................................... 17 B. Gender Equal Society ................................................................................................. 19 C. Disadvantaged Position of Women in the Labor Market ............................................. 20 D. Strengthening the Function and Authority of the National Machinery for the Advancement of Women (currently the Gender Equality Bureau Cabinet Office) .............. 23 E. Abolition of Discriminatory Legislation within the Civil Code on Marriage (including Discrimination against Illegitimate Children), the Penal Code, and the Anti-Prostitution Act . .................................................................................................................................. 24 F. Minority Women ........................................................................................................ 27 G. Sexual Minorities ....................................................................................................... 28 H. Overcoming Gender Stereotypes ................................................................................. 29 Article 6 - Right to Work ................................................................................................... 31 A. Non-permanent Employment ..................................................................................... 31 B. Measures for the Unemployed .................................................................................... 32 C. Ensuring Equal Employment Opportunities for People with Disabilities ..................... 33 D. Right to Work for Non-Japanese Nationals ................................................................. 34 Article 7 - Right to Just and Favourable Conditions of Work .......................................... 37 A. Work-life Balance ...................................................................................................... 37 B. The Elderly, Minimum Wage and Occupational Injury ............................................... 39 C. Non-Japanese Nationals ............................................................................................. 41 Article 8 - Freedom of Association and Right to Strike .................................................... 45 2 A. Labor Unions ............................................................................................................. 45 Article 9 - Right to Social Security.................................................................................... 48 A. Provisions to Prohibit Discriminatory Treatment in Domestic Laws (based on Disabilities) ...................................................................................................................... 48 B. Social Security of Retirees under 65 Years Old ............................................................ 49 C. Problems of Low Pensions and Persons without Pensions ............................................ 50 D. Income Gap between Men and Women, including the Pension Gap ............................. 50 E. Pensions and Other Matters for Non-Japanese Nationals ............................................ 52 F. Non-Japanese Nationals and National Health Insurance ............................................. 53 G. Social Security for Unemployed People ....................................................................... 54 Article 10 - Right to Family .............................................................................................. 56 A. Violence against Women ............................................................................................. 56 B. Employment of the Elderly ......................................................................................... 63 C. Damage to the Consumer and Adult Guardianship ..................................................... 63 D. Elderly Abuse and Adult Guardianship ...................................................................... 64 Article 11 - Right to an Adequate Standard of Living ...................................................... 66 A. Public Assistance for Non-Japanese Nationals ............................................................. 66 B. Public Assistance for Persons Applying for Refugee Status .......................................... 67 C. Forced Evictions ........................................................................................................ 68 D. Transition from Homelessness to Residential Living ................................................... 69 E. Public Housing Measures ........................................................................................... 69 F. Housing Policy for the Elderly, People with Disabilities and Others ............................. 70 G. Global Warming Issues .............................................................................................. 72 Article 12 - Right to Highest Attainable Standard of Physical and Mental Health ........ 74 A. Medical Care System ................................................................................................. 74 B. Psychiatric Care ........................................................................................................ 80 C. Medical Care in Detention Facilities ........................................................................... 82 D. Induced Abortion ....................................................................................................... 84 E. Framework for the Promotion of Reproductive Health ............................................... 85 F. Remedies for Victims of Pollution ............................................................................... 86 G. Regulation of Chemical Substances and Related Matters ............................................ 87 H. Waste Materials ......................................................................................................... 88 I. Conservation of Water Quality ................................................................................... 90 J. Protection of Natural Environment t .......................................................................... 91 K. Urban Environment ................................................................................................... 93 Articles 13 & 14 - Right to Education ............................................................................... 95 A. Right to Education for Children without Japanese Nationality, and Children with Roots Outside Japan .................................................................................................................. 96 B. Right to Education ..................................................................................................... 97 C. Education for Children with Disabilities ................................................................... 101 3 Special Report – Great East Japan Earthquake and Japan’s Nuclear Energy Policy ..................... 103 A. Background of the Special Report ...........................................................................