(Tokyo, November 18, 2025) – Japan’s new authorities ought to make the promotion of human rights central to its international coverage, Human Rights Watch mentioned in a letter to the brand new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on November 6, 2025. The Japanese authorities ought to affirm its dedication to human rights by taking the lead in selling civilian democratic rule and the rule of legislation throughout Asia and all over the world.
Prime Minister Takaichi, Japan’s first feminine prime minister, took workplace on October 21. Japan, as the one Asian member of the Group of Seven (G7) superior economies, has a major position in selling basic rights and freedoms overseas, together with in Cambodia, China, Myanmar, and North Korea. Japan’s longstanding official coverage “puts effort into improving the global human rights situation through bilateral dialogues, proactive participation in multilateral forums such as the UN, and constructive dialogues with the UN human rights mechanisms.”
“Japan has long claimed to pursue human rights diplomacy, but it has yet to take meaningful steps needed to make that a reality,” mentioned Kanae Doi, Japan director at Human Rights Watch. “Prime Minister Takaichi should swiftly enact necessary measures to promote rights-respecting governance crucial for the security and well-being of people throughout Asia and elsewhere.”
The new Japanese authorities has the chance to undertake various essential measures to advertise human rights, Human Rights Watch mentioned. The authorities ought to undertake a world Magnitsky-style sanctions legislation, which can permit Japan to impose focused sanctions on critical human rights abusers overseas. Japan is presently the one G7 nation with out such a legislation.
The authorities ought to introduce legally binding human rights and environmental due diligence for Japanese corporations to deal with pressured labor, youngster labor, sexual harassment, publicity to poisonous substances, retaliation for organizing, and low wages in world worth chains. In addition, the federal government ought to legislate import and export bans on items produced by way of means involving pressured labor and deforestation.
The Japanese authorities also needs to present its assist and dedication to worldwide justice and the rule of legislation by acceding to the Genocide Convention. It ought to publicly specific robust assist for the International Criminal Court, together with by denouncing and taking measures towards US authorities sanctions on the courtroom and offering the courtroom with the assets it wants to hold out its work.
Other priorities for Japanese human rights diplomacy embrace publicly denouncing circumstances of transnational repression by China and different governments; rising help for refugees and different weak teams; and establishing a program to assist human rights defenders and open civic area overseas.
The Japanese authorities also needs to take up key human rights points in particular nations, notably in Asia. It ought to press the Chinese authorities to finish its rising repression, together with crimes towards humanity in Xinjiang, pressured assimilation in Tibet, and the erasure of freedoms in Hong Kong. Japan also needs to proceed to elevate issues with different governments in regards to the Myanmar junta’s proposed elections; and press the Cambodian authorities to carry the extreme restrictions on freedom of expression, the media, peaceable meeting, and affiliation.
“As Japan’s new leader, Prime Minister Takaichi has the power to transform Japan into a global leader on human rights, both at home and abroad,” Doi mentioned. “Despite a turbulent geopolitical climate, Prime Minister Takaichi should embrace this opportunity to adopt new laws, policies, and practices that will allow Japan to reach its human rights potential.”
Source: Human Rights Watch