Universal Periodic Review Working Group – 42nd Session

Universal Periodic Review of Japan

Statement by Australia

31 January 2023

Australia commends Japan for its commitment to human rights, and progress made since its last UPR appearance, including becoming a State Party to the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, in 2017.

We welcome Japan’s family law reform review, including consideration of a joint custody model. We also welcome the strengthening of anti-discrimination laws protecting Japan’s indigenous Ainu people.

Australia recommends that Japan:

1. Resume the establishment of a National Human Rights Institution, ensuring its full compliance with the Paris Principles.
2. Expand the scope of the Hate Speech Elimination Act to prohibit discrimination on the grounds of race, ethnicity, sexual orientation and gender identity.
3. Establish a moratorium on the use of the death penalty as a first step towards abolition and implement a mandatory appeals system against death penalty sentences.

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