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Requested visits
(R in 2005) SR on toxic waste
(R in 2007 renewed in 2009) WG on arbitrary detention
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Special Rapporteur on human rights in DPRK
Country visit: 25 January - 28 January 2011
Press release only - no mentions of children's rights
Full report forthcoming
The UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in DPRK has also made four previous visits, for further information, go here: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/chr/special/countryvisitsf-m.htm
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Independent Expert on the issue of human rights obligations related to access to safe drinking water and sanitation
Country visit: 20-28 July 2010
Press release only - no mentions of children's rights
Full report forthcoming
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UN Special Rapporteur on Migrants, Jorge A. Bustamante,
31 March 2010
Mr. Bustamante identified the following concerns in a press release:
- The high incidence of domestic violence against migrant women and their children. Mr. Bustamante recommended that the government design appropriate policies to protect and assist single mothers and their children and implement them with immediate effect.
- There is a considerable number of migrant children in Japan who do not attend school. Mr. Bustamante recommended that the government step up efforts to ensure that foreign children study in Japanese or foreign schools and learn Japanese.
- Children of migrant families are separated from their parents after the latter are deported or detained because of their irregular residence status. Mr. Bustamante stated that children should not be separated from their parents in accordance with the principle of the "best interests of the child".
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UN Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, Doudou Diène
(E/CN.4/2006/16/Add.2)
Country visit: 3-12 July 2005
Report published: 24 January 2006
Mr. Diène identified the following concerns:
- The number of Buraku children who attend high school is 20 per cent lower than that of other children, as highlighted by the Kyoto prefectural government. It is believed that this is a consequence of the racial discrimination experienced by Buraku children in high school. In this regard, Mr. Diène recommended that the government establish an appropriate administrative function that deals specifically with the problem of discrimination. (para 20)
- Violence against Korean schoolchildren is still a serious concern. Some children suffer insults or are physically abused simply for being Korean. But the most serious expression of violence concerns Korean girls wearing national Korean dresses, who have had their clothes ripped or cut in public places during daytime. Children are now scared of revealing their identity or of wearing their traditional dress. In this regard, Mr. Diène recommended that the government adopt strong preventive and punitive measures to stop and sanction racially motivated violent acts against Korean children. (para 58)
- Koreans use Japanese names against their will to avoid discrimination. In primary schools, only 14.2 per cent of Korean children use their Korean name. In secondary school, this drops to nine per cent. Ill-treatment, such as harassment, verbal abuse, physical violence, or the ripping of the chima chogori (Korean ethnic dress) has occurred since North Korea admitted to abducting Japanese nationals in 2002. (para 30)
- Discrimination against Ainu children: Many Ainu children leave school as a result of the discrimination they suffer. A 1999 survey conducted by the Hokkaido prefectural government revealed that while the average attendance rate for high school children is 97 per cent, the figure for Ainu children is 95.2. Another consequence of this discrimination is that children tend to be ashamed of their identity and therefore assimilate into the mainstream culture, losing touch with their own culture and their pride in it. In this regard, Mr. Diène highlighted that the Ainu community believes that the best way to combat discrimination is through education: many Japanese on the main island do not know anything about Ainu history, or even that the Ainu exist, or they think the Ainu are foreigners. The Ainu want their history and culture to be taught as part of the culture and history of Japan, which is not homogenous. Teachers do not teach the reality of Ainu culture and history at school. On the contrary, many of them continue to transmit the same stereotypes of the Ainu as being inferior, for example, by saying in front of a class that Ainu children can only count to 10. (para 43)
- Several cases have emerged on the island of Okinawa of young schoolgirls being sexually harassed by American military officers. In this regard, the government has expressed its intention to take appropriate measures, but nothing has been done to date. (para 52)
