HURIGHTS OSAKA

NEWSLETTER of the Asia-Pacific Human Rights Information Center (HURIGHTS OSAKA)

December 2008 Volume 54

Editorial

Tragedy of Finding Peace

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) reported on its website that
“around 300 patients, accompanied by 18 ICRC staff, fled Puthukkudiyiruppu
Hospital in northern Sri Lanka after it was shelled repeatedly.” Neither the shelling
of a hospital in time of war nor the forced stranding of thousands of civilians in a
place where fighting is taking place can ever be justified.

Another human tragedy is unfolding right before the eyes of the whole world. So far,
there is no ceasefire in this current Sri Lankan fighting, even for the sake of getting
helpless civilians out to a safe zone. The same story has been happening in other
places of armed conflict; Mindanao is an example.

Behind this tragedy, and many other armed conflict situations in Asia, is a long
history of discrimination and other forms of human rights violations. In such
situations, the use of violence became the means to gain justice despite the high costs
in terms of loss of life and damage to property.

To obtain peace, there must be respect for human rights. To respect human rights,
there must be peace. Otherwise, the undesired resort to violence remains an option
for those whose rights have been trampled upon.

FOCUS Asia-Pacific is designed to highlight significant issues and activities relating to human
rights in the Asia-Pacific. Relevant information and articles can be sent to HURIGHTS OSAKA
for inclusion in the next editions of the newsletter.
FOCUS Asia-Pacific is edited by Osamu Shiraishi, Director of HURIGHTS OSAKA.

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 Mindanao Conflict: In Search of Peace and Human Rights
HURIGHTS OSAKA

T he current armed conflict in Mindanao reflects

the recurring call for the fulfillment of the right to
self-determination of the Muslim population in the
(3) Imposition of confiscatory land laws;
(4) “Indionization” (or Filipinization) of public
administration in Moroland and the
Philippines in order to obtain sustainable peace. destruction of traditional political
With almost forty years of on and off fighting institutions;
between Muslim armed opposition groups and the (5) Government financed/induced land
Philippine military forces, and the resulting high toll settlement and migration to Moroland;3
on human lives, the search for sustainable peace and (6) Land-grabbing/conflicts;
full respect for human rights remains a big challenge.
(7) Cultural inroads against the Moros;
The current armed conflict started in late 1960s, (8) The Jabidah Massacre in 1968 (killing of
when a Muslim armed group (Moro National Muslim army recruits by their superiors);4
Liberation Front or MNLF) started to advocate for a (9) Ilaga (Christian vigilante) and military
“Moro homeland.” The Philippine government
atrocities in 1970-72; and
responded through military means, resulting in
numerous deaths among, and displacement of, the (10) Government neglect and inaction on Moro
civilian population (Muslims as well as Christians). protests and grievances.
In the 1970s, the Philippine government initiated
peace talks and obtained a peace agreement with the The 2005 PHDR states that the declaration of martial
then main Muslim armed opposition group (MNLF) law on 21 September 1972 by then President
to stop the conflict and address the problems. But Ferdinand E. Marcos was a triggering event of the
armed confrontations broke out every now and then, contemporary Moro armed struggle.
between the Philippine military and the MNLF and
also with another Muslim armed opposition group The migration of Filipinos from the northern and
(Moro Islamic Liberation Front or MILF). For every central regions of the Philippines to Mindanao led to
break out of armed hostilities, thousands of non- conflicts. As the 2005 PHDR explains:
combatants are caught in the crossfire, and suffer
The Muslims resented the loss of their lands,
displacement and other human rights violations.
including those idle but which formed part of
To emphasize their deep sense of independence as a their traditional community. This resentment
people, many Muslims in Mindanao collectively call grew as Muslims witnessed the usurpation by
themselves “Moro,” the word used by the colonial Christian settlers of vast tract of prime lands.
Spanish government to refer to the Muslim people. This ignited disputes between them and the
This extends to the use of the word Christian settlers. The question on land
“Bangsamoro” (Moro Nation) to indicate a people ownership and land disputes between Muslims
separate from the rest of the Philippine population. and Christians was crucial during the post-war
period. 5
Roots of the conflict
Peace initiatives
The 2005 Philippine Human Development Report
(2005 PHDR) lists the following major historical and The resulting armed conflict from the early 1970s
contemporary roots of the conflict in Mindanao:1 created a major crisis in Mindanao, and in the
Philippines as a whole. In December 1976, the
(1) The forcible/illegal annexation of Moroland Philippine government signed an agreement with the
to the Philippines under the Treaty of Paris MNLF through the intercession of the Organization
in 1898;2 of Islamic Conference (OIC). This agreement, known
as the 1976 Tripoli Agreement, provided for the
(2) Military pacification by the American creation of an autonomous region in Mindanao and
colonial government; Palawan (covering thirteen provinces), and the

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establishment of an autonomous government, judicial The 2005 PHDR states that by early 2000s, “three
system (for Sharia law), and special security forces. tracks had emerged, parallel though sometimes
converging, which now constitute the current
In 1977, President Marcos and the Batasang evolution of the Moro conflict: (1) the
Pambansa (legislature) came out with a series of implementation of the GRP-MNLF Peace
laws to implement the 1976 Tripoli Agreement that Agreement; (2) the GRP-MILF peace negotiations;
resulted in the creation of “Sangguniang Pampook and (3) Post-9/11 terrorism and counterterrorism on
[Regional Council] in each of Regions IX and XII” the Moro front.”10
in Mindanao.6 This solution was rejected by the
MNLF.7 The Philippine government (GRP) and the MILF
started peace talks toward a negotiated political
The 1987 Philippine Constitution brought in a new settlement in 1996. Support for the peace talks by
legal basis for a Muslim autonomous government in Malaysia, Indonesia and Libya led to the GRP-MILF
Mindanao. It has a provision (Article X) for an Tripoli Agreement on Peace of 2001. The
Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, whose Implementing Guidelines on the Security Aspect of
creation is dependent on acceptance in a plebiscite by the GRP-MILF Tripoli Agreement of Peace of 2001
the people in the affected provinces. Consequently, in was signed on 7 May 2002 in Putrajaya, Malaysia. To
1989, a law8 was enacted that led to a plebiscite for maintain the ceasefire, three mechanisms were
the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao adopted 1) Joint Coordinating Committees on the
(ARMM). In 1990, ARMM was established covering Cessation of Hostilities, 2) the International
the provinces of Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Shariff Monitoring Team (composed of representatives from
Kabunsuan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi, whose respective Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam, and Libya), and 3) the
populations voted in a plebiscite for inclusion into the Ad Hoc Joint Action Group.
new region.
The continuing peace negotiations between the GRP
But peace was still elusive. Formal peace talks and MILF resulted in a 2008 Memorandum of
between the government and MNLF had to start Agreement on the Ancestral Domain Aspect of the
again in 1993 through the mediation of OIC and the GRP-MILF Tripoli Agreement of Peace of 2001
Indonesian government. The Philippine government (MOA-AD). The MOA-AD provides for the
and the MNLF signed the 1996 Final Peace delineation of the Bangsamoro homeland, similar to
Agreement (FPA) to complete the implementation of the delineation of the ancestral domain of indigenous
the "1976 Tripoli Agreement between the Filipinos.11 It provides for the establishment of a
Government of the Republic of the Philippines Bangsamoro Juridical Entity (BJE), which is the legal
(GRP) and the Moro National Liberation Front body that will govern the Bangsamoro homeland.
(MNLF)." The 1996 agreement called for the Both GRP and MILF saw the MOA-AD as a
establishment of a “Special Zone of Peace and necessary step to a final peace agreement.
Development (SZOPAD), the Southern Philippines
Council for Peace and Development (SPCPD), and But before the scheduled signing of the MOA-AD on
the Consultative Assembly,” and the merging of the 5 August 2008 in Kuala Lumpur was held, its legality
MNLF forces with the Philippine military, among was questioned before the Philippine Supreme Court.
other provisions. The agreement also called for an The Philippine government decided not to sign the
amendment to the law that created the ARMM. In agreement in view of the opposition raised by some
2001, the law was the amended9 that led to a Christian local government leaders in Mindanao and
plebiscite in other provinces with predominant other political personalities. The court declared the
Muslim population regarding their inclusion in the unsigned MOA-AD unconstitutional in October
ARMM. One province (Basilan) and one city 2008.12 The court viewed the BJE, provided for in the
(Marawi) joined the ARMM as a result. MOA-AD, as “more of a state than an autonomous
region” allowed by the 1987 Constitution for the
By winning in the 1996 elections for the ARMM ARMM governing body.
posts, the MNLF virtually took power since 1996
over six provinces and one city with predominant
Muslim population. Human rights and the peace agreements

But the autonomous region formula was not a Did the agreements between the Philippine
complete solution toward peace in Mindanao. government and the MILF consider the human rights
Another Muslim armed opposition group, the MILF, dimension of the issues at hand? Some say the MOA-
demanded an independent Islamic state. The AD ignored human rights due to the unlimited power
Philippine government had to deal with MILF given to the BJE.13
separately for a negotiated settlement of its demands.

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As one author pointed out,14 the Terms of Reference 2 This is the peace treaty between the US and Spain
(TOR) for the discussion of the MOA-AD, the that ceded the Philippines to the US for 20 million
General Framework of Agreement of Intent Between US dollars.
the GRP and the MILF (GFAI) dated 27 August 3 The government colonization program led to the
1998, the Agreement on the General Framework for migration to Mindanao of Filipinos from the northern
the Resumption of Peace Talks Between the GRP and and central regions of the Philippines prior to the
the MILF (AGFRPT) dated 24 March 2001, and the Second World War.
Tripoli Agreement on Peace Between the GRP and 4
the MILF (TAP) dated 22 June 2001 all refer to the This refers to the killing of members of a special
United Nations Charter, the Universal Declaration of military force who were being trained on guerrilla
Human Rights, and mention the principles of justice, tactics in preparation for "Operation Merdeka,” a
freedom and respect for the identity and culture of secret plan to invade Sabah. See Jocelyn Uy, “Lone
the Moro people. The TOR also includes the “ILO survivor recalls Jabidah Massacre, “ Philippine Daily
Convention No. 169, in correlation to the UN [United I n q u i re r , i n h t t p : / / n e w s i n f o . i n q u i r e r. n e t /
Nations] Declaration of Rights of the Indigenous breakingnews/nation/view/20080318-125522/Lone-
Peoples.” survivor-recalls-Jabidah-Massacre
5 Busran-Lao, Y., 2005, “Human Development,
Even the Philippine Supreme Court referred to the Economic and Social Costs and Spillovers of
UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Conflict: The Case of the Province of Lanao del Sur”
in discussing the appropriateness of the MOA-AD cited in Human Development Network, op. cit., page
provision on the right of the Moros to a homeland. 67.
6 See Presidential Decree No. 1618, Implementing the
Way forward Organization of the Sangguniang Pampook and the
Lupong Tagapagpaganap ng Pook in Region IX And
The failure of the Philippine government to sign the Region XII and for Other Purposes.
MOA-AD led to a new round of armed hostilities in 7 Human Development Network, op. cit., page 71.
late 2008 causing death to a number of people and
8 Republic Act No. 6734, An Act Providing for the
displacing thousands more.
Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
Nevertheless, the MOA-AD is just one step on the 9 Republic Act No. 9054, An Act to Strengthen and
long road to peace in Mindanao. The peace Expand the Organic Act for the Autonomous Region
negotiations between the Philippine government and in Muslim Mindanao, Amending for the Purpose
the MILF will continue and eventually deal with the Republic Act No. 6734.
existing legal structures brought about by the 10
agreements with the MNLF. Human Development Network, op. cit., page 66. The
third track covers the Abu Sayyaf Group, which
Whatever final peace settlement is reached by all became notorious for its kidnapping activities in
parties (the Philippine government, the MNLF, and early 2000s.
the MILF), the international human rights standards 11 The delineation of ancestral domain of the
should form a crucial part of both the process and indigenous communities is provided for under the
content of achieving it. Peace without human rights is Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act of 1997 (IPRA),
not a final peace settlement. Republic Act No. 8371.
12 G.R. Nos. 183591, 183572, 183893, and 183951, The
For further information, please contact HURIGHTS Province of North Cotabato v. The Government of
OSAKA. the Republic of the Philippines Peace Panel on
Ancestral Domain (GRP), et al., October 14, 2008.
13 Soliman M. Santos, GRP-MILF peace agreements
Endnotes and human rights, Action for Economic Reforms, in
w w w . a e r . p h / i n d e x . p h p ?
1 Human Development Network, 2005 Philippine option=com_content&task=view&id=747&Itemid=8
Development Report (Manila: Human Development 8
Network, 2005), page 66, citing Macapado Abaton 14 Ibid.
Muslim, The Moro Armed Struggle in the
Philippines: The Nonviolent Autonomy Alternative
(Marawi City: Office of the President and College of
Public Affairs, Mindanao State University, 1994).

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 The Human Rights and Humanitarian Costs
of the 2008-2009 Mindanao War
Zainudin S. Malang

T he parents of 16-year-old Saadudin Ampuan

recall the morning of 21 September 2008, when
they told him to go to their farm, one and a half
Agreement on the Ancestral Domain Aspect of the
GRP-MILF Tripoli Agreement of Peace of 2001
[MOA-AD]) in the same month.
kilometers away from their house. Aware of the
danger, they said they would be following right As expected, both sides pin the responsibility on the
behind him. Thirty minutes later, the parents saw him other side for the breakdown of the ceasefire which
in the custody of soldiers. Saadudin saw his parents has been holding for the previous five years.
and called to them. The parents tried to get near him However, members of local civilian ceasefire
but was fired upon by the soldiers. The following day monitors point to local Christian politicians in North
they saw his dead body in a shallow grave – both his Cotabato as engaging in attempts to incite or spark a
ears were cut off, both his legs had seven deep cuts big war between the government and the rebels as
each, and his sex organ was mutilated. This Moro early as July 2008. According to these local
family’s farm is located in Lanao del Norte province, monitors, the International-Monitoring-Team-
which is heavily affected by the ongoing offensive by brokered emergency agreement between the ceasefire
government soldiers against Moro rebels. committees of both sides to prevent a major
breakdown of the ceasefire was sabotaged by civilian
Basilan Kamidon, in an evacuation camp in the militias beholden to these politicians. The rebels
province of Maguindanao, recounts how he and all were already pulling-out pursuant to that agreement
the Moros in his village in the adjoining North when the militias fired at them, prompting the former
Cotabato province had to scamper for safety in early to stay put. This provided an excuse for the military
August 2008 after fighting between soldiers and to launch an offensive against them.
rebels erupted. They walked and waded the whole
day through the swamps to find safety in a secluded Meanwhile, these politicians in tandem with their
area of the Liguasan Marsh. The elderly and children conservative but powerful counterparts in the
had to be carried on the back of some of the adults. nation’s capital were successful in scuttling the peace
The next day, they walked again till the afternoon to process through a well-coordinated disinformation
reach a camp for internally displaced persons (IDPs) campaign against the interim peace agreement. By
in the town of Datu Piang, Maguindanao province. pandering to Filipinos’ ultra-nationalist sentiments,
They joined one hundred thousand other IDPs who they were able to generate widespread opposition
have to put up with inadequate food aid, diseases, hot among Christians against the agreement, forcing the
and crowded makeshift shelters, and the longing to government to abandon the product of eleven years
go back home. Basilan says some of his fellow of negotiations with the MILF.
villagers tried to go back but were shot at and driven
away by soldiers and Christian militia members. At Within a week after fighting broke out in early
the moment, he and the others see no hope of going August 2008, there were almost one hundred thirty
back. thousand IDPs. The military offensive carried on
through the fasting month of Ramadhan and onwards
such that by early October, the number of IDPs
Events leading to the war ballooned to almost four hundred thousand.
Although the frequency of encounters between the
Mindanao has seen major outbreaks of fighting government and rebel forces has decreased, IDPs still
between Moro rebels waging an armed struggle for number more than three hundred thousand
their right to self-determination against the individuals as of 27 January 2009. The bulk of these
Philippine Republic. The latest outbreak between the IDPs are in the Moro communities in the provinces
forces of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) of Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Lanao del Norte,
and the Government of the Republic of the and North Cotabato.
Philippines (GRP) began in early August 2008.
Ironically, the two sides were supposed to sign an
interim peace agreement (2008 Memorandum of

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Pattern of violations of international human
rights and humanitarian laws

International human rights and humanitarian laws

that protect non-combatants in armed conflict
situations from such acts as food blockades,
summary killings, use of civilian communities as
human shields have little impact in protecting the
IDPs of Mindanao.
Vilma Mandi recalls how on the morning of 8
September 2008 her husband and five of her children
died after their boat was fired upon by a plane of the
Philippine Air Force (PAF). The boat was part of a
convoy of boats carrying civilians who hurriedly left
their village upon seeing planes hovering over it. A
few hundred meters before reaching a safe area, a Further, the IDP camps are not always safe because
rocket from one of the planes hit the boat. The they can get hit by artillery. They can be exposed to
military claimed that the victims were combatants rebel attacks when soldiers, with their military
who fired at the planes, but five of the victims were vehicles and tanks, roam places where IDP shelters
only two to seventeen years old. Civilians, including are located as in the towns of Datu Saudi Ampatuan,
the village chief, who saw the incident along the Datu Piang and Piagapo. Residents note that soldiers
highway that morning belied the military claim. move in among them when their detachments
become vulnerable to attacks by rebels. They
Numerous village officials and residents of several theorize that soldiers are using the civilians, some of
Moro towns in Maguindanao say that houses (except whom are related to the rebels by family ties, as
those along the highway) have been torched by shields to deter the rebels from attacking. In case of
government soldiers. This problem occurred in attack, the civilians will be caught in the cross-fire.
Barangay (Community) Muslim in Guindulungan
town, Barangay Pamalian in Datu Unsay town,
Barangays Pusao and Tukanalipao in Mamasapano Inefficient aid delivery adds suffering
town, and Barangays Tapikan and Lapok in Sharif
Aguak town, among other places. However, in the IDP camps are mainly constructed by the IDPs
village of Pagatin, at least ten houses along the themselves using light materials such as plastic
highway were torched allegedly by government sheets and coconut leaves. These makeshift tents
soldiers during the Eid’l Fitr celebrations expose them to unbearable heat and rain.
commemorating the Islamic Holy Month of
Ramadhan. In Pamalian, where residents say three The available food aid (twenty-five kilos of rice per
hundred of the four hundred houses were torched, family per month) has not been able to sufficiently
even the rice mill was set afire by placing burning serve the needs of the IDPs. In January 2009, a man
tires under the machinery. Residents and village who set up a tent for his family along the road in
officials say civilians are victims of retaliation as the Datu Saudi Ampatuan burned his tent out of
burning of civilian properties usually occur whenever frustration for failing to receive any food for months
soldiers suffer casualties in the hands of the rebels. from humanitarian organizations. The system of
delivering food has also caused the exclusion of
The IDPs could not go back to their farms to forage some IDPs from receiving food. This happened in the
for whatever was left of their crops due to continuing case of an international humanitarian organization
aerial and artillery bombings. For instance, on 10 whose strict system of distributing food using food
December 2009, IDPs from Barangays Balanakan, stamps excluded IDPs who could not get the stamps.
Liong, and Alonganan in Datu Piang town trooped Also, a faulty system of determining who deserve to
back to their villages upon the military’s assurance receive the food stamps has been seen as a cause of
that there would no longer be any bombardment. But this problem. In one documented case, one group of
before they could even complete their return, those IDPs received food, while another group who were
villages were bombed again forcing the IDPs to present during the food distribution failed to get any
hurry back to the IDP camp. In another village in due to lack of food stamp. While in another case,
another municipality, IDPs trying to get back to their some IDPs were considered fake IDPs and thus
farms were simply shot at similar to what happened disqualified from receiving aid.
in Barangay Tapikan in Sharif Aguak town.

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Crowded and ill-prepared camps are places for b) The local and foreign civil society
diseases to spread quickly. Without proper medical organizations should likewise call upon both
support, IDPs especially children suffer from the parties to respect international human rights
diseases. Journalists, in a fact-finding mission in and humanitarian law standards.
five conflict affected areas in Mindanao in October
2008, noted the high number of deaths at the IDP c) The Philippine Commission on Human
camps due to treatable diseases. In Lanao del Norte Rights should provide adequate resources for
town, eleven children have died since August 2008 the investigation and legal aid work of its
due to diarrhoea. Yet this situation has not been offices in the conflict affected areas.
noticed by an international humanitarian d) Aid organizations should abandon their
organization (International Committee of the Red reluctance to fund human rights monitoring
Cross) operating in the camp, whose staff likely and legal aid services to victims.
saw dead children being brought out to the burial
grounds. In view of the bias of the international media in
covering the situation of Christian IDPs in
Recommendations Mindanao (as in the case of IDPs in Kauswagan
and Kolambugan, Lanao del Norte province), local
On the whole, disease, hunger, and death would and foreign aid organizations should pressure, or at
have been a much bigger problem at the IDP camps least remind, the media outfits of their
if the international aid organizations had not given responsibility to be fair and to give sufficient
support. But there are serious issues on their attention to the plight of the Muslim IDPs in
services to address, as the IDPs clearly say. The Mindanao. Lack of media coverage deprives the
following suggestions are thus offered to the Muslim IDPs of the opportunity to generate public
international aid organizations : pressure against the continuation of the war.

a. Engage as partners in aid delivery the local These suggestions are merely remedial. A true long
NGOs with proven track records, which can lasting and sustainable protection for the victims of
provide appropriate information on the the conflict is a successful peace process between
conditions on the ground. the government and the rebels. A ceasefire will
only offer temporary respite. Only by addressing
b. Hold periodic validation of the number and the demands for the full respect for the human
location of the IDPs in view of the changing rights (i.e., self-determination) of Moro people can
situation over time. the people of Mindanao reasonably look forward to
c. Hold direct consultation with the IDPs living in an environment of peace.
themselves for purposes of identifying gaps
in aid delivery, complementing the
coordination with the local social, political Zainudin S. Malang is currently an adviser to an
and administrative structures. international non-governmental organization
d. Organize the IDPs by camps and inform providing medical aid to internally displaced
them of the grievance mechanism regarding persons in Mindanao.
aid abuse. The government guideline (NDCC
Circular No. 18, Series of 2008) says that any For further information, please communicate with
complaint, injustice, wrongdoing, Mr. Malang through [email protected].
accusations, or criticisms relating to
humanitarian efforts may be addressed to the
Regional Disaster Response Coordination
Desk.
The human rights situation of the IDPs require
more intense efforts, and the following are
suggested:
a) The international community should remind
the government and rebel forces of their
agreement to comply with international
human rights and humanitarian law
standards. Under the Tripoli Agreement of
2001, both parties obligated themselves to be
bound by such standards.

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Employment Measures for Persons with Disabilities in Japan
Ryosuke Matsui

T here are more than seven million persons with

disabilities in Japan. This is almost 6 percent of
the total population, a much lower rate than that of
governments and voluntary agencies to increase the
number of care homes as well as attendant and
personal care services in the communities.
the USA and European Union countries due to the
difference in the definition of disability. Those with But both central and local governments cannot afford
disabilities in Japan consist of three and a half to drastically increase funding to secure enough care
million persons with physical disabilities, more than services and care homes for all persons with
five hundred thousand persons with intellectual disabilities who are ready to move from institutions/
disabilities, and more than three million persons with hospitals into the communities.
mental disabilities. The number of persons with
physical disabilities living at home increased from The government is now reviewing the current
three million in 1996 to three and a half million in national laws and regulations for persons with
2006, an increase of 18.6 percent while those who disabilities in order “to promote, protect and ensure
are 65 years old and over increased from more than the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and
one and half million in 1996 to more than two fundamental freedoms by all persons with
million in 2006, an increase of 39.3 percent disabilities,” and prepare for the ratification of the
reflecting the rapid aging of the Japanese population. Convention on the Rights of Persons with
Disabilities (CRPD).
23.4 percent of persons with intellectual disabilities
are in institutions and 11.7% of persons with mental Employment of persons with disabilities
disabilities are in mental hospitals while only 2.4%
of persons with physical disabilities are in According to the most recent government statistics,
institutions. Based on the Basic Disability Plan (2003 out of a total number of 1.26 million persons with
– 2012), the government has been trying to promote disabilities in Japan who are working, 240,000 are
the transfer of those in institutions and mental employed at sheltered or small-scale workshops
hospitals to communities by encouraging local (Table 1). And out of a total of around 1 million
persons with physical and intellectual disabilities
who are working, nearly half of them are employed
Table 1. Total number of persons with disabilities
at private enterprises or public sector while another
and employment rate of those who are working half are self-employed or employed at family
(2004) (in ten thousands) businesses (Table 2).
Persons Persons Persons Total
with with with Table 2 shows that around 93 percent of the total
number of employees with disabilities are employed by private
physical intellectual mental persons
disability disability disability enterprises while only 7 percent are employed by the
Number of public sector. And among those employed by private
persons with 352 46 258 656 enterprises about three out of four are employed by
disabilities private enterprises with fifty-six or more employees,
Number of those under the employment quota system.
who are in 125 26 149 300
working age and And among employees with disabilities about one
living at home out of three have severe disabilities. This means that
Number of those 52 13 61 126 the employment quota system plays a key role in the
who are working employment of persons with disabilities, including
Number of those those with severe disabilities in Japan.
who are working
at sheltered or 3 7 14 24 Legal measures
small-scale
workshops Japan started enacting a series of laws regarding
Employment rate 41.6 50 40.9 42 persons with disabilities after the Second World War
(%) (Table 3).

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 Table 2. Number of persons with physical or intellectual disabilities who are employed at private
enterprises and public sector (2003) (in ten thousands)
Number of fulltime employees with Number of fulltime employees with
disabilities severe disabilities
A. Persons with disabilities who are employed at 483 171
private enterprises with 5 or more employees
B. Persons with disabilities who are employed at 369 134
enterprises with 56 or more employees
C. Persons with disabilities who are employed at 38 11
public sector
Total (A+C) 521 182

Table 3. Japanese laws on persons with disabilities

Year Laws
1949 Law for the Welfare of Persons with Physical Disabilities

1950 Mental Hygiene Law, amended in 1995 to become The Law Concerning Mental Health and the Welfare of
Persons with Mental Disabilities
1961 Law for the Welfare of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities
Law for the Employment Promotion of Persons with Physical Disabilities, amended in 1987 to become the Law
1960 Concerning the Employment Promotion, etc. for Persons with Disabilities (in preparation for the ratification of the
ILO Convention on Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment [Disabled Persons] of 1983)
1970 The Basic Law on the Measures for Persons with Intellectual and Physical Disabilities, amended in 1993 to
become the Basic Law for Persons with Disabilities
1982 The Long-term Plan of the Measures for Persons with Disabilities, which corresponded to the UN Decade of
Disabled Persons (1983–1992) and the World Program of Action concerning Disabled Persons (1982)
1993 The New Long-term Plan of the Measures for Persons with Disabilities, which corresponded to the Asian and
Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons (1993–2002)
1994 Law for the Promotion of the Construction of Special Buildings for Smooth Use by the Aged and the Disabled,
revised in 2002
1995 Plan for Persons with Disabilities – Seven-Year Strategy toward Normalization (FY 1996 – FY 2002)
1997 Personal Care Insurance Law for the Aged
2000 Law for Promoting Easily Accessible Public Transportation Infrastructure for the Aged and the Disabled
Basic Program for Persons with Disabilities (FY 2003 – FY 2012) and Five-Year Plan for Implementation of
2002 Priority Measures (FY 2003 – FY 2007), which corresponds to the 2nd Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled
Persons (2003 – 2012)
2004 Latest revision of the Basic Law for Persons with Disabilities

The government aims to increase regular disabilities, and c) vocational rehabilitation

employment for persons with disabilities by leading programs.
them away from sheltered employment. There are
two programs currently being implemented by the Employment quota system
government: a) regular employment programs
established under the Law Concerning the The law governing the employment quota system
Employment Promotion, etc. for Persons with penalizes employers who fail to meet the quota. Both
Disabilities, and the b) sheltered employment private enterprises and public institutions (national
programs established under the welfare laws for and local governments) are required to comply with
persons with physical, intellectual and mental this employment quota system. Private enterprises
disabilities. that fail to meet the quota are required to submit a
plan to employ persons with disabilities within a
The central features of the government program for three-year period. Failing to submit the plan is
the regular employment of persons with disabilities penalized by a fine (200,000 Yen maximum), while
are the a) employment quota system, b) levy and neglecting to implement the plan is penalized by the
grant system for the employment of persons with Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare who would

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expose this neglect to the mass media. Table 4 which used to employ higher percentage of persons
provides information on the situation of the with disabilities. Large size enterprises establish
employment quota system. special subsidiary companies for the employment of
persons with disabilities. As of 1 June 2008, two
hundred forty-two special subsidiary companies
Table 4. Status of implementation of the employ around 7,700 persons with disabilities with
employment quota system more than 40 percent being persons with intellectual
Employment quota for disabilities. While the special subsidiary companies
Employer persons with increased the number of employees with intellectual
disabilities disabilities, this system avoids their employment in
regular company operations and can be criticized as
Private enterprises/General private against the concept of inclusion or mainstreaming.
enterprises (at least 56 regular 1.8%
employees) Levy and grant system
Government-affiliated organizations
in certain categories (at least 48 2.1% The levy and grant system is intended to improve the
regular employees) level/rate of employment of persons with disabilities
by collecting levies from those enterprises which fail
National and local public 2.1% to satisfy the employment quota and use the collected
organizations levies to financially assist (in various forms of
Prefectural boards of education, etc. 2.0% grants) those who employ persons with disabilities.
This is meant to support the economic burden
accompanying the employment of persons with
As of 1 June 2008, private enterprises covered by the disabilities that requires the remodeling of the work
employment quota system maintain 1.59 percent, facilities/equipments, special employment
0.21 point below the required legal quota, management, assignment of workplace attendants,
employment rate. Comparing the rates among private and skill development. It should be noted that an
enterprises, large size private enterprises with at least employer who pays the levy is not exempt from the
one thousand employees have been making more obligation to comply with the employment quota
efforts in the employment of persons with disabilities system.
in recent years than the small size private enterprises,

Table 5. Institutions providing vocational rehabilitation services

Public Employment A PESO registers the application of persons with disabilities who seek employment, and provides these
Security Offices applicants with such services as vocational guidance and job referrals.
(PESOs)
National Institute of NIVR conducts research and surveys on vocational rehabilitation and provides training for experts
Vocational engaging in vocational rehabilitation as well as provides experimental vocational rehabilitation services
Rehabilitation (NIVR) especially for those with severe disabilities.
These centers provide disabled persons with such services as vocational evaluation, vocational guidance,
Prefectural centers support services by job coaches, and work preparation training in close collaboration with PESOs and
Employment and Living Support Centers for Persons with Disabilities, etc. They also provide employers
with vocational consultation and advice concerning employment management of persons with disabilities.
An employer can be commissioned by a prefectural governor to conduct on-the-job training for persons
Private employers with disabilities in the types of work suitable for their capacities for a period of six months or less (one year
or less in the case of persons with severe disabilities). Short-term on-the-job training (from less than two
weeks to four weeks in the case of persons with severe disabilities) is also available.
Public vocational training is provided, under the Vocational Ability Development Promotion Law, for
persons with disabilities to help them acquire skills necessary to facilitate their employment. For those who
General public can receive vocational training together with non-disabled persons, it is conducted by general public
vocational ability vocational ability development centers. And for those having difficulty receiving vocational training together
development centers with non-disabled persons, a total of nineteen Public Vocational Ability Development Centers for Persons
with Disabilities have been established in the country so far. The training period varies from three months
to three years depending on the training categories.
Vocational training services are also provided by eighteen other educational and training centers
Other educational and established by employers, educational foundations and social welfare foundations to develop and improve
training centers the vocational skills of persons with disabilities, by making the most of the grants which are available under
the Levy and Grant System.

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 Table 6. Information on institutions involved in sheltered employment measures
Sheltered workshops provide persons with disabilities with training services to prepare them for
Sheltered workshops and their eventual placement in regular enterprises, as well as for the work opportunities available to
welfare factories those who have difficulty to be employed in the open labor market even after the training. Welfare
factories are designated as employment entities where persons with disabilities are employed as
workers whose employment conditions are similar to those in regular enterprises.
Community-based small- These are informal projects that cannot subscribe to the minimum standards provided under the
scale workshops law. They therefore do not receive support from the national government. They depend on local
government support and public donations.

Employers who employ persons with physical or With only about one percent of persons with
intellectual disabilities beyond the legally required disabilities finding employment in the open labor
quota are entitled to adjustment allowances or market annually, the sheltered workshops became
rewards taken from the collected levies. employment places (instead of training facilities) for
these people with an average wage in 2006 of about
Vocational rehabilitation programs twelve thousand yen per month or less than one tenth
of the minimum wage. The government intends to
Vocational rehabilitation services are provided to reorganize these facilities into time-limited
persons with disabilities by the Public Employment transitional training programs with emphasis on
Security Offices (PESOs), the vocational placement in the open labor market, and non-
rehabilitation networks operated by Japan competitive employment programs that cover those
Organization for Employment of the Elderly and with and without employment contracts. Labor laws
Persons with Disabilities (JEED) and various other do not protect those without employment contracts,
relevant organizations. Table 5 provides information regardless of the period of work involved.
on the services being provided.
Conclusion
The recent trend of vocational rehabilitation
programs in Japan is the move from center-based The current measures are laudable but still do not yet
group training program to community-based fully satisfy the needs of persons with disabilities
individual training program. From 1 April 2007 to 31 who want and have the capacity to work. To facilitate
March 2008 over eight hundred job coaches provided higher employment rate, the following are
vocational support services to around five thousand recommended tasks that should be considered:
persons with intellectual or mental disabilities. This
resulted in a success rate of over 80 percent of those 1. Promotion of various forms of employment and
work friendly to persons with disabilities;
who received such services keeping their jobs for six
months or more. 2. Developme nt of the necessary support and
environment to increase the opportunities for
short-time work and work at home for persons
Sheltered employment measures whose capacities and types of disabilities suit
these kinds of work;
There are two kinds of authorized work facilities, 3. Provision of support for the utilization of
namely, the sheltered workshops established information and communication technology (ITC)
for those working at home, taking into
according to the Welfare Law for Persons with consideration the needs of persons with
Physical Disabilities and Persons with Intellectual disabilities who have difficulty in commuting to
Disabilities, and the welfare factories established the workplace;
according to the Law concerning Health and Welfare 4. Provision of support for persons with disabilities
of Persons with Mental Disabilities. In addition, there in creating or running new businesses. Likewise,
are community-based, small-scale workshops provision of necessary measures (including
facilitating financing start-up funding as well as
established by voluntary organizations, including marketing support) for persons with disabilities
organizations of parents who have children with who are willing to create or run new businesses;
disabilities. 5. Promotion of human resources development for
persons with disabilities, including the
As of October 2003, 2,425 sheltered workshops have development of systems for their admission into
been serving around 88,400 persons with disabilities. general human resource development programs,
As of August 2004, 6,025 community-based small- ensuring that the programs consider the trends in
employment needs relating to the development of
scale workshops have been providing training and service economy and information society, and
work opportunities to nearly 84,000 persons with ensuring accessibility to facilities where the
disabilities. programs are administered;
(continued on page 13)

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 International Workshop on Current Buraku Issues
HURIGHTS OSAKA

T he Buraku Liberation and Human Rights

Research Institute (BLHRRI) organized a two-
day International Workshop on Current Buraku
as Buraku. He said that his study showed how the
Buraku youth learn to share their identity openly
within the confines of their “protective cocoon” - the
Issues on 31 July – 1 August 2008 in Osaka city to home, school and the community. He also said that
“compare the historical experiences of Buraku outside this area the Buraku students had to struggle
people with similar experiences of other social to openly share their Buraku identity. Without trust
minority groups in other cultures” that will being established, these youth hesitated to reveal
“undoubtedly bring about important recognition of their identity as Buraku. A study of Yugo Tomonaga,
key issues surrounding the life of Buraku and other Ryo Yano and Maya Mori dealt with several case
minority populations.” studies on Buraku communities and the Aborigines in
Australia. They asserted that the Buraku existence
Presentations had diverse characteristics, and its relationship with
the non-Buraku community contributed to the
The presentations were divided into four panels. The diversity and uniqueness within the Buraku
panel on “Social Mechanisms that Produce community.
Minorities” dwelt on the Buraku discrimination, the
caste discrimination in India, and the racial The panel on “The Role of the Minority Middle
discrimination in the United States. Midori Class” discussed the case of the anti-discrimination
Kurokawa of Shizuoka University explained that the movement in Korea by the paekjong, a group
Buraku discrimination evolved as the Japanese similarly discriminated as the Buraku, in the 1920s.
society modernized, despite its legal prohibition as Kim Joong-Seop of Gyeongsang National University
early as 1871. The persistence of Buraku (South Korea) reported that the successful campaign
discrimination, she asserted, was due to the drawing of the paekjong against discrimination was due in
of an “innate line” between people who discriminate part to the role played by the middle class and the
and the discriminated. The Buraku people assumed intellectuals in the paekjong community. The
such “innate characteristics,” while people who were educated middle class intellectuals from the paekjong
free of such characteristics were safe from community led the movement’s efforts to abolish
discrimination “for the rest of their lives.” The Indian discriminatory customs, regain their communitarian
caste discrimination, according to Motilal fellowship, and lift their social status. Lee Kayoung
Mahamallik of the Indian Institute of Dalit Studies, presented presented the role of the middle class in a
was based on people’s “affiliation to a certain local community anti-discrimination group. He
community.” They were discriminated against certain narrated the initial aloofness of the Buraku middle
types of access and opportunities in the society. He class to the group and the problems of the poorer
said that the Indian affirmative action or reservation Buraku members in Hinode community. But this
policy has helped address discrimination and gradually changed when the group began to take up
exclusion of Dalits in different spheres. John Davis middle class concerns such as tax and business
Jr. of Michigan State University reported that the alongside the poorer people’s concerns on education,
United States situation offered paradoxes. While the employment and housing. The middle class in
inclusion of an African-American, a woman and a Hinode community began to take active part in the
Latino as nominees for the Democratic Party group. But with the government special measures
candidate for President was historical, it hid realities alleviating the condition of the Buraku communities
of continuing discrimination based on race and and creating new middle class, the middle class
gender in American society. He, therefore, asserted began leaving the community to have private homes
that the suggestion of a post-racial or post-gender instead of the public housing facilities. The
America was premature. community was left with the poorer members that
somehow led to a stagnated anti-discrimination
In the panel on “Changing Identities of Minorities,” movement.
Christopher Bondy of De Pauw University (U.S.)
presented a case study of a small town where Buraku The last panel on other important issues related to
youth were helped in openly identifying themselves Buraku discrimination discussed the problem facing

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women, and multi-culturalism in Japanese issue as a “stand-alone issue to an issue that fits
society. Nehema Misola of Western Visayas College squarely in with other minority populations in
of Science and Technology (Philippines) presented Japan,” namely discussing the Buraku issue as part of
the case of a Buraku woman who was struggling to the “otherness” concept in Japanese society. He also
realize social equality for Buraku women. She studied the record of the Japan Foundation regarding
reported that the woman was confronted with the financial support for the study of the Buraku issue.
traditional roles assigned to women at home and at He noted that in its thirty-six years of operation, only
work. But the woman continued to increase her one grant on a graduate research on the Buraku issue
capacity to pursue social equality for women by had been given. A few previous research grants might
studying human rights. Risa Kumamoto of Kinki have considered the Buraku issue as a component of
University presented the situation of women in the the subjects of research (such as the concept of
Buraku liberation movement. She pointed out that the pollution in medieval Japan, multicultural education,
discussion of women concerns within the movement and city planning). These grants were all given
does not relate to the “universal” problem of during the last five years. He observed that the Japan
discrimination but to the peculiar problem of women. Foundation probably saw the discussion of the
They are debated only within the Women’s Division Buraku issue within the framework of
of the movement. Because of this, she observed that multiculturalism as the proper way of “presenting”
the gender structure in the Buraku community could Japan. Finally, he studied a Buraku activist
also be reinforced by Buraku discrimination. Buraku organization and also noted a shift from focusing on
women are being “othered” by the Buraku Buraku issue alone to using multiculturalism to relate
movement, which is a male-centric structure, by to other minority groups in Japan and to using human
confining them to the role of “mother” and to rights as a basis for common action with other
supporting roles in the movement. In this context, she minority groups. All these contributed to the effort of
observed that fighting for a more women-centered debunking the view about the homogeneity of Japan.
system within the movement’s structure could be
considered a betrayal of the cause of the movement.
Joseph Hankins, PhD candidate in Chicago For further information, please contact: The Buraku
University, studied the change in the way the Buraku Liberation and Human Rights Research Institute,
issue was presented in the English literature and the 1-6-12, Kuboyoshi, Naniwa-Ku, Osaka City, Japan;
funding support for Buraku studies. He noted the ph (816) 6568 0905; fax (816) 6568 0714; e-mail:
shift from the previous presentation of the Buraku [email protected]; www.blhrri.org.

(continued from page 11) and adjustments not imposing a disproportionate or

undue burden, where needed in a particular case, to
6. Promotion of commissioned training by various ensure to persons with disabilities the enjoyment or
human resources development institutions, exercise on an equal basis with others of all human
including private-sector institutions (enterprises
and non-profit organizations, etc.) and other rights and fundamental freedoms.”
organizations; and
7. Provision of labor protection and income support Study of the American and British laws that already
for those who are working on a long-term basis at incorporate the “reasonable accommodation”
non-competitive employment facilities so that principle, and consultation with organizations of
they can work and live in their communities as persons with disabilities would be the important tasks
equal members. of the MHLW in this regard.
These recommendations can be incorporated in the
programs of the local governments for all categories
of persons with disabilities, particularly through their Ryosuke Matsui is the Vice-President of the Japanese
“Municipal Government Basic Program for Persons Society for Rehabilitation of Persons with
with Disabilities,” that were supposed to have been Disabilities.
adopted from 2007. For further information please contact: Japanese
They can also be considered in the revision of the Society for Rehabilitation of Persons with
Japanese laws and regulations to comply with the Disabilities, 1-22-1, Toyama, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
principle of “reasonable accommodation” and Article 162-0052 Japan; ph (81-3) 5273-0796; fax (81-3)
27 of the CRPD. The Ministry of Health, Labor and 5273-0615; e-mail: [email protected];
Welfare (MHLW) has to prepare recommendations www.dinf.ne.jp.
on how to adopt “reasonable accommodation,”
defined as “necessary and appropriate modification

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 Assessing Human Rights Education in the School System
Jefferson R. Plantilla

A project supported by UNESCO and the Office

of the United Nations High Commissioner for
Human Rights under the first phase plan of action
Lao PDR and Indonesia have institutions
(commissions/committees) that took direct action on
human rights education as part of compliance with
(2005-2009) of the United Nations World state obligation under the ratified international
Programme for Human Rights Education (WPHRE) human rights instruments. As the report states
assessed the state of human rights education in the
school systems of four countries in Southeast Asia. In Indonesia, the National Commission on Violence
against Women (Komnas Perempuan) is using
Initially planned for five Southeast Asian countries, CEDAW in its Kurikulum Pendidikan HAM Ber
perspektif Keadilan Jender (Human Rights Curriculum
the project eventually covered Cambodia, Indonesia, from a Gender Perspective). xxx xxx In Lao PDR,
Lao PDR and Thailand. The project implementation the National Committee for Human Rights (which is
started, after more than a year of delay, with the tasked with implementing the state obligations under
establishment of national teams on human rights the ICCPR and ICESCR) has requested the MOE
[Ministry of Education] to develop a supplementary
education (NTHREs) in each of the four countries curriculum and teaching-learning materials on human
and the meeting between the NTHREs and the rights and child rights.
Regional Project Team (composed of staff of
HURIGHTS OSAKA and the Office of Human The ratified international human rights instruments
Rights Studies and Social Development of the were also included in either school curriculum or
Faculty of Graduate Studies of Mahidol University). teaching materials. The report states that2

The NTHREs were tasked to assess the state of In Cambodia, the Policy for Curriculum Development
policy support for human rights education in the 2005–2009 and the 2009 school curriculum have
human rights content referring to UDHR, CRC and
school system and the extent of the policy CEDAW. The Science and Social Studies learning
implementation. This exercise was meant to lead to areas discuss child rights (and human rights in
planning on improved human rights education within general).
the school systems in the four countries involved.
In Lao PDR, the MOE supported the “development
of textbooks, implementation of a child-friendly
Achievements school system, and teacher training, that focus on
child rights under the CRC.” It also produced
The full report1 on the project provides a summary of
textbooks for primary and secondary levels that
the results of the assessment of human rights contain the provisions of ICESCR and ICCPR,
education in the school systems in the four Southeast teacher guides (Basic Knowledge of Human Rights,
Asian countries. Some of the highlights of the student textbook for Grades 4-6 and 8 for primary
summary are presented below. level, and Grades 9-11 for secondary level) that
A highlighted issue is on the role of the ratified include discussion on ICESCR and ICCPR, and
international human rights instruments in the training manuals and children’s book focusing on
initiatives to teach human rights within the formal child rights (Our Rights).3
education system. The four countries involved have In Indonesia, the Ministry of National Education
ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child
(CRC), the Convention on the Elimination of All … has promoted the provisions of CRC in several
Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), teaching materials (Panduan Pendidikan Hak Asasi
the International Convention on the Elimination of Manusia Untuk Guru SD & MI, or The Guidelines on
All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD), and Human Rights Education for Elementary School and
Islamic Elementary School) that were developed with
the International Covenant on Economic, Social and the support of UNESCO.
Cultural Rights (ICESCR). While Lao PDR has
signed, the others have ratified the International Another government office in Indonesia, the
Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). Directorate General on Human Rights of the Ministry
of Law and Human Rights, produced the Pengantar
HAM – 1, 2, 3 (Introduction to Human Rights – 1, 2,

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3) that refer to the “ICESCR, ICCPR, ICERD, initiatives widely and effectively implemented
CEDAW along with UDHR in discussing human nationwide.
rights issues (discrimination, social security,
marriage, etc.).” It also produced “twelve human There are a number of challenges to be considered in
rights embedded religious education textbooks for this regard. The challenges specific to the schools are
pilot study of human rights education through the the following:
Islamic Education subject lessons for primary, junior
secondary, and senior secondary schools and their a. Large classes that affect employment of
appropriate pedagogies by teachers who have
equivalent level in the madrasahs.”4 had training on these pedagogies
Human rights education has been integrated into the b. Limited training opportunities to cover all
Moral-Civic education subject under the Social teachers in the country
Studies learning area of the Policy for Curriculum c. Limited printed materials about human rights
Development 2005–2009 and the 2009 school d. Limitation of project implementation to a
curriculum in Cambodia, and the Citizenship particular level or number of schools.
education subject in the Standard of Educational
Content of Indonesia. In Thailand, human rights are There are also institutional challenges that affect:
considered part of the objectives of education and
a. Consistent and sustained policy implementation
thus to be integrated into Social, Religious and
Cultural Subject Area, and in teaching methods.5 In b. Provision of adequate supporting resources
Lao PDR, human rights are integrated in several c. Review and assessment mechanism.
subjects in primary and secondary curriculums in the
General Knowledge subject (Lesson 46 for Grade 4 The results of this project provide substantial bases
and Lesson 39 for Grade 5). for the governments of Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao
PDR and Thailand in continuing the review of the
Supporting factors current initiatives in order to develop a new national
plan or program that can address the current
Human rights education in the school systems of the limitations and challenges, and as further step in their
four countries has the support of a number of factors: achievements.
a. National action plan on human rights – this is the
case of Indonesia that has adopted such plan For further information, please contact: HURIGHTS
since 2004 with provisions on human rights
education. OSAKA, PiaNPO, 3F, 2-8-24 Chikko Minato-ku,
Osaka 552-0021 Japan; ph (816) 6577-35-78; fax
b. National human rights institutions – to some (816) 6577-35-83; e-mail: [email protected];
extent, the existence of national human rights www.hurights.or.jp
institutions in Indonesia and Thailand has helped
their respective Ministries of Education in
integrating human rights into the school
curriculum and in producing training and Endnotes
1 Human Rights Education in the School Systems in Southeast
teaching materials on human rights
Asia – Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR and Thailand, 2009,
c. Support from international organizations and aid published by the Asia-Pacific Human Rights Information
agencies – the initiatives in Lao PDR, Cambodia Center in cooperation with the Office of Human Rights
and Indonesia have benefited from the support of Studies and Social Development of the Faculty of Graduate
UNESCO, international non-governmental Studies of Mahidol University.
organizations and the international aid agencies 2 Chin Yahan, “National Report on Human Rights Education
(Australian Aid for Lao PDR) particularly in in the School System of Cambodia,” in Human Rights
developing teaching materials and implementing
Education in the School System in Southeast Asia, ibid.
teacher training programs 3 Yangxia Lee and Somthavinh Nanthavong, “National
d. Support from the local non-governmental Report on Human Rights Education in the School System of
organizations – the human rights education the Lao PDR.” in Human Rights Education in the School
initiatives in Indonesia, Thailand and Cambodia Systems in Southeast Asia, ibid.
have been strongly supported by their local non- 4 Agung Purwadi, Philip Suprastowo, and Iskandar Agung,
governmental organizations. “National Report on Human Rights Education in the School
System of Indonesia,” in Human Rights Education in the
Challenges School System in Southeast Asia, ibid.
5 Suwitra Wongvaree, “Human Rights Education in the

However, the four countries face challenges in School System of Thailand,” in Human Rights Education in
ensuring the continuation of the human rights the School System in Southeast Asia, ibid.
education initiatives as well as in making the current

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 HURIGHTS OSAKA CALENDAR

The Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations of the United Nations approved on 20 January 2009 the
application of HURIGHTS OSAKA and eleven other Civil Society Organizations for the Special Consultative
Status with the Economic and Social Council. This information was released by the News and Media Division
of the Department of Public Information of the United Nations (www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2009/
ecosoc6376.doc.htm).

DE
AU

PO
BUR
OSAKA

ST
JAPON
TAXE PERCUE

PRINTED MATTER AIR MAIL

May be opened for inspection by the postal service.

HURIGHTS OSAKA, inspired by the Charter of the United Nations and the Universal Declaration of Human
Rights, formally opened in December 1994. lt has the following goals: 1) to promote human rights in the Asia-
Pacific region; 2) to convey Asia-Pacific perspectives on human rights to the international community; 3) to
ensure inclusion of human rights principles in Japanese international cooperative activities; and 4) to raise
human rights awareness among the people in Japan in meeting its growing internationalization. In order to
achieve these goals, HURIGHTS OSAKA has activities such as Information Handling, Research and Study,
Education and Training, Publications, and Consultancy Services.

HURIGHTS OSAKA
(Asia-Pacific Human Rights Information Center)
3F, piaNPO, 2-8-24 Chikko Minato-ku Osaka 552-0021 Japan
Phone: (816)6577-3578 Fax: (816)6577-3583
E-mail: [email protected]
HURIGHTS OSAKA Web site: http://www.hurights.or.jp
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