http://www.imadr.org/un/ ja Copyright 2008 Mon, 12 May 2008 08:32:36 +0000 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/ http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss On May 9, 2008, Japan was reviewed by the Working Group for the Universal Periodic Review in its 2nd session. After the review, IMADR produced the below press release on the review on Japan. The report on the review is scheduled to be adopted by the Working Group on May 14th. http://www.imadr.org/un/hrc/imadrs_comment_on_the_universa/ http://www.imadr.org/un/hrc/imadrs_comment_on_the_universa/ 01)Human Rights Council SubNews CategoryNews SubNews ThemeNews Mon, 12 May 2008 08:32:36 +0000 IMADR attended the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) 7th session (March 3-28, 2008) held in Geneva, and was engaged in the activities listed below, which are related to the HRC's topics for discussion including the elimination of Discrimination Based on Work and Descent, Rights of Minorities, the situation of minority groups in Japan and the humanitarian crisis in Sri Lanka.]]> http://www.imadr.org/un/hrc/imadrs_activities_at_the_7th_s/ http://www.imadr.org/un/hrc/imadrs_activities_at_the_7th_s/ 01)Human Rights Council SubNews CategoryNews SubNews ThemeNews Sat, 29 Mar 2008 07:40:21 +0000 http://www.imadr.org/un/hrc/imadr_delivers_statements_at_t/ http://www.imadr.org/un/hrc/imadr_delivers_statements_at_t/ 01)Human Rights Council CategoryNews Tue, 25 Mar 2008 06:54:31 +0000 92nd session (external link), where it will hold a Task Force to produce a list of questions to be posed to the Government of Japan. ]]> http://www.imadr.org/un/treaties/joint_reporting_on_the_human_r/ http://www.imadr.org/un/treaties/joint_reporting_on_the_human_r/ 04)International human rights treaties SubNews CategoryNews SubNews ThemeNews Wed, 05 Mar 2008 03:55:41 +0000 The World Declaration on Human Rights, adopted in the UN General Assembly in 1948, is the most important basis regarding fundamental human rights. All international human rights treaties adopted then on are based on this declaration. Governments that have ratified each of these treaties will be required to implement the standards set in the provisions in their own countries. At the same time, they are bound to submit periodic reports to treaty bodies in charge of observing the implementation of each treaty within countries. The treaty bodies review the government reports and give observations and recommendations. Japan has so far ratified 7 international treaties: ICECR, ICCPR, CEDAW, CRC, CERD, CAT, and CED. Except for CED, ratified on February 2007, there have been periodic report review processes for all these treaties. Such reviews are significant because they bring to light the human rights violations that cannot be addressed by legislations or systems within the country, and provide specific ideas on how to take charge of the problems. IMADR-JC, as well as many other Japanese NGOs working to implement international human rights standards in Japan, take actions to make these processes effective for the improvement of human rights situations in Japan at each stage of the process, calling for effective dialogue with the government in the preparation of the government report, submitting NGO shadow reports to treaty bodies and lobbying at the review sessions, and calling for the implementation of the treaty body recommendations after the review process. http://www.imadr.org/un/treaties/sectiondescription_3/international_human_rights_tre/ http://www.imadr.org/un/treaties/sectiondescription_3/international_human_rights_tre/ 04)International human rights treaties SectionDescription SectionDescription Tue, 25 Sep 2007 03:48:37 +0000 The Preparatory Committee for Durban review conference (external link) held its first session from 27th to 31st August 2007, making decisions such as those related to NGO participation and rules of procedure.]]> http://www.imadr.org/un/durban/durban_followup_conference/ http://www.imadr.org/un/durban/durban_followup_conference/ 02)Durban and beyond CategoryNews Fri, 31 Aug 2007 11:16:17 +0000 http://www.imadr.org/un/icerd/post_4/ http://www.imadr.org/un/icerd/post_4/ 03)The Convention against Racism CategoryNews Thu, 23 Aug 2007 17:31:32 +0000 IMADR places 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. It assists partner organizations to create NGO shadow reports and lobby at CERD sessions, as well as create session reports. One of the oldest international treaties, ICERD was established in 1965. As of April 19, 2007, 173 countries had ratified it. IMADR considers it a very important treaty, dealing with a wide range of discrimination, setting the international basis for the elimination of racism and racial discrimination and marking the importance of combat against such discrimination. http://www.imadr.org/un/icerd/sectiondescription_2/post_2/ http://www.imadr.org/un/icerd/sectiondescription_2/post_2/ 03)The Convention against Racism SectionDescription SectionDescription Mon, 06 Aug 2007 03:54:26 +0000 The World Conference against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance was held from 31 August to 7 September 2001, in Durban, South Africa. Mary Robinson, the UN High Commissioner of Human Rights then, served as the Secretary General in this conference, which hosted active discussions between Government delegations, experts, UN bodies, international organizations and NGOs, discussing the situation of racism and racial discrimination, and the elimination of such discrimination. During the preparatory process, IMADR carried out its campaign for WCAR. It was launched within its Third International Conference Against Racial Discrimination and Racism - Towards a World Conference on Racism in 2001 on November 22, 1998 in Tokyo, Japan. The goal of the campaign was: (a) To bring to the attention of the international community the plights of minorities and indigenous peoples who have been exposed to persistent and perennial discrimination; (b) To build and develop, particularly through the above-mentioned efforts, national and regional networks of NGOs as well as national and regional focal points for the world conference; (c) To undertake research on issues which are considered to enrich the discussion of a world conference; and (d) To influence, through the above-mentioned activities, the planning process of the preparation of the world conference. IMADR's Geneva Office played a leading role in the planning committee of NGOs for the world conference. It also provided training and internship programs for the community leaders of minority groups and indigenous peoples. http://www.imadr.org/un/durban/sectiondescription_1/post_1/ http://www.imadr.org/un/durban/sectiondescription_1/post_1/ 02)Durban and beyond SectionDescription SectionDescription Mon, 23 Jul 2007 05:39:02 +0000 It is essential for the effective functioning of the UN human rights system to reflect the voices of grassroots minorities within the discussions. As an NGO with ECOSOC consultative status, IMADR has lobbied in various meetings such as the Commission on Human Rights, Sub-Commission on Human Rights and its working groups, creating reports and presenting joint/individual statements. IMADR has promoted concern and action at the international level on issues such as discrimination based on work and descent, human rights education, minority rights, elimination of human trafficking, protection of tsunami affected populations, and those affected by the armed conflict in Sri Lanka. The Human Rights Council was launched on March 15, 2006, according to the General Assembly resolution 60/251, succeeding the Commission on Human Rights as a new main body to address human rights issues within the UN system. It consists of 47 UN Member States elected by the General Assembly, and since its first session, which began on June 19, 2006, has been going through a drastic reform and institution building process, while at the same time addressing a wide range of substantive human rights issues. The council will reach an outcome on its institution-building process at its 6th session, which will be held in September 2007. IMADR stresses the importance of voices from the minorities and NGOs being reflected in discussions within the new system. It calls for the continuation of important special procedures such as the working groups and independent experts on minorities and indigenous populations, as well as proposing that the creation of new systems such as the Universal Periodic Review and the Expert Advice Body be done in a way that will give minorities and NGOs proper voices in the UN system. http://www.imadr.org/un/hrc/sectiondescription/post/ http://www.imadr.org/un/hrc/sectiondescription/post/ 01)Human Rights Council SectionDescription SectionDescription Mon, 23 Jul 2007 05:38:37 +0000 IMADR is in consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and maintains a UN liaison office in Geneva. 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. It also takes an active part in the ongoing discussion on the institution building process of the newly- launched Human Rights Council, calling for the maintaining of important special procedures that enable adequate discussion on specific issues such as minority rights and discrimination based on work and descent, and the creation of an effective system that provides adequate participation for NGOs and grassroots minority groups. IMADR produces oral and written statements in relation to its areas of action in various UN meetings, including the Commission on Human Rights and its working groups, the Human Rights Council and committees on various international treaties. It also creates reports on meetings, such as the Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD), and the working group of Indigenous populations (WGIP). http://www.imadr.org/un/description/imadr/ http://www.imadr.org/un/description/imadr/ Description Mon, 23 Jul 2007 05:38:17 +0000