The International Movement Against All Forms of Discrimination and Racism (IMADR) is an international non-profit, non-governmental human rights organization devoted to eliminating discrimination and racism, forging international solidarity among discriminated minorities and advancing the international human rights system. Founded in 1988 by one of Japan's largest minorities, the Buraku people, IMADR has grown to be a global network of concerned individuals and minority groups with regional committees and partners in Asia, Europe, North America and Latin America. IMADR's International Secretariat is based in Japan and maintains a UN liaison office in Geneva. IMADR is in consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).

empowerment
To promote the capacity of discriminated groups to raise their voices and represent themselves in activities to combat discrimination.

solidarity
To promote cooperation and solidarity among discriminated people in ways that rise above regional, national and gender differences.

advocacy
To promote implementation of international human rights instruments through the voice and power of discriminated groups, and strengthen legal standards, institutions and organs for the elimination of discrimination and racism; to promote their effective use by the discriminated.

IMADR's primary focus is to combat racism, racial discrimination and multiple discrimination (in particular, discrimination based on both race and gender) as they cut across the following areas:

• Eliminating discrimination based on work and descent
• Eliminating exploitative migration & trafficking in women & children
• Upholding the rights of indigenous peoples
• Upholding the rights of minorities
• Eliminating racial discrimination in the administration of justice
• Strengthening international human rights protection mechanisms for the elimination of discrimination and racism, and promoting their effective use by the discriminated

grassroots empowerment
Together with local partner organizations, IMADR develops grassroots movements around the world. IMADR also builds links between minority communities to enhance solidarity and enable them to share their experiences and support each other's movements. The Buraku community (Japan) and Dalit community (India), both discriminated against on the basis on work and descent, work together by running day care centers for Dalit children.

changing perceptions
IMADR builds awareness that discrimination and racism are not just problems for minorities, but for society as a whole. In collaboration with other organizations, IMADR holds and participates in local, regional and international events, including the World Social Forum. These bring together grassroots activists to address racism and racial discrimination, both in local contexts and within the broader social and historical context of colonialism, neo-liberal globalization and the "War on Terror." IMADR has been instrumental in raising awareness of international instruments and mechanisms to combat discrimination (including the promotion of human rights education) by disseminating information and encouraging national and local groups to work together to use these instruments and mechanisms effectively.

action-oriented research
IMADR carries out research to support international and national advocacy, including, for example, a survey of the multiple discrimination faced by women in minority communities. In cooperation with NGOs and academic institutions, IMADR sponsors joint research/action projects on trafficking in women and children and exploitative migration. IMADR occasionally sends missions to investigate discrimination and strengthen solidarity among minority groups (e.g. to Slovakia in June 2005 to investigate the situation of the Roma minority). IMADR also monitors relevant UN bodies through its office in Geneva.

sharing information and experiences
IMADR is constantly developing its network to promote information sharing, with the aim of connecting and strengthening worldwide movements toward the elimination of racism and racial discrimination. IMADR's publications and website serve as basic networking tools.

campaigns
IMADR is one of the few NGOs that place special emphasis on the implementation of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD), the only legally binding global instrument that comprehensively addresses racial discrimination. At the local level in Japan, IMADR is instrumental in campaigns calling for the effective use of ICERD and the establishment of anti-discrimination legislation and a national human rights institution. IMADR also campaigns for the elimination of racial discrimination in the administration of justice, through its support of the Sayama Case in Japan and on an international level.

advocacy
IMADR lobbies at UN meetings and major world conferences, linking grassroots minority groups with UN human rights bodies and mechanisms. As one of the few international human rights NGOs based outside the North Atlantic region, IMADR is viewed as an important support vehicle for many local and regional organizations. Through its regional committees and local partners, IMADR also advocates for the rights of discriminated groups at the local level, including for example, the rights of Argentina's migrant and indigenous communities, and Sri Lanka and India's discriminated communities in the wake of the Indian Ocean Tsunami. In Sri Lanka, IMADR works with local grassroots groups to uphold the rights of the country's ethnic and religious minorities in the peacebuilding process.

International Secretariat
6 Floor, 1-7-1, Irifune, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0042, Japan
tel: (81-3)6280-3100 fax: (81-3)6280-3102
e-mail: imadr[at]imadr.org

Geneva Office
150, route de Ferney, CP 2100
1211 Geneva 2, Switzerland
tel: (41-22)791-6263 fax: (41-22)791-6480
e-mail: geneva[at]imadr.org

Asia Committee
No.139 A, Ananda Rajakaruna Mawatha, Colombo 10, Sri Lanka
tel: (94-11)2682505/2672586 fax: (94-11)2682505
e-mail: imadr-ac[at]imadr.org

North America Base
P.O. Box 1535, Fort Lee, NJ 07024, USA
e-mail: imadr-nac[at]imadr.org

Latin America Base
2727 Melincue, 1517 Buenos Aires, Argentina
tel/fax: (54-1)501-8813

Europe Contact
c/o MRAP (Mouvement contre le Racisme at pour l'Amitie entre les Peuples)
43 Boulevard Magenta 75010 Paris, France
tel: (33-1) .53.38.99.99 fax: (33-1) 40.40.90.98
e-mail: mrap[at]mrap.asso.fr

Japan Committee
6 Floor, 1-7-1, Irifune, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0042, Japan
tel: (81-3)6280-3101 fax: (81-3)6280-3102
e-mail: imadrjc[at]imadr.org

Printable Map[PDF 137KB]

President
Nimalka Fernando (Sri Lanka) Lawyer

Vice Presidents
Bernadette Hétier(France) Co-President, Mouvement contre le Racisme et pour l'Amite entre les Peuples(MRAP)
Mario Jorge Yutzis (Argentina) Former member, UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
Kinhide Mushakoji (Japan) Executive Director, Centre for Asia Pacific Partnership (CAPP), Osaka University of Economics and Law; Former Vice-Rector, United Nations University

Directors
Romani Rose (Germany) Chairman, Central Council of German Sinti and Roma
Rodolfo Stavenhagen (Mexico) Professor, El Colegio de Mexico; Former UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights on the situation of the human rights and fundamental freedom of indigenous people
Theo van Boven (Netherlands) Professor, University of Maastricht
Burnad Fatima Natesan (India) President, Tamil Nadu Women’s Forum (TNWF); President, Society for Rural Education and Development (SRED)
Durga Sob (Nepal) President, Feminist Dalit Organisation (FEDO)
Bisi Olateru-Olagbegi (Nigeria) Executive Director, Women’s Consortium of Nigeria (WOCON)
Michael O. Sharpe (USA/Netherlands) Assistant Professor of Political Science, York College of the City University of New York
Shigeyuki Kumisaka (Japan) President, Buraku Liberation League
Tadashi Kato (Japan) Executive Director, Ainu Association of Hokkaido
Shin Hae Bong (Japan) Associate Professor, Faculty of Law, Aoyama Gakuin University

Inspectors
Ryu Matsumoto (Japan) Vice-President, Buraku Liberation League; Member of the House of Representatives
Koshi Yamazaki (Japan) Professor of Law, Niigata Law School, Niigata University

Secretary-General
Yuriko Hara (Japan) Permanent staff member, IMADR Secretariat (Tokyo)

Under-Secretaries-General
Catherine Cadou (France) Research fellow on Japanese studies; Freelance
Martin Kaneko (Austria/Japan) Professor, Nihon Women's University
Kenzo Tomonaga (Japan) Director, Buraku Liberation and Human Rights Research Institute (BLHRRI)
Toru Matsuoka (Japan) Secretary-General, Buraku Liberation League
Megumi Komori(Japan) Permanent staff member, IMADR Secretariat (Tokyo)

Advisory Panel
Tonya Gonnella Frichner (USA) Representative, American Indian Law Alliance
Jan Niessen (Netherlands/Belgium)　Director, Migration Policy Group
Peter Nobel (Sweden) Former member, UN CERD
Helene Sackstein (Switzerland) Gender and Child Protection Specialist
George E. Tinker (USA) Professor, Iliff School of Theology
Penda Mbow (Senegal) Professor, Université Cheikh Anta Diop, Dakar
Jun Nishikawa (Japan) Professor, Waseda University
Kim Dong Hoon (Korea/Japan) Professor, Ryukoku University

(Permanent staff only)

　　　　　　　 　　　　　　　 　　　　　　　

Yuriko Hara	Secretary-General
Megumi Komori	Under-Secretary-General
Daisuke Shirane	Geneva Office
Junko Matsuura	Program Officer
Mayumi Sagawa	Assistant Program Officer
Momoko Ozawa	Intern

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