STATEMENT
42nd UPR Session of the Human Rights Council on the human rights situation in Japan, as delivered by Ambassador Tine Mørch Smith, Permanent Representative of Norway in Geneva.
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31 January 2023
Vice President,
Norway welcomes Japan’s participation in the UPR process.
We welcome Japan’s recent local and national legislative and policy developments aimed at ensuring better protection from discrimination for women, LGBTQI persons, and social and ethnic minorities. However, legal sanctions and enforcement mechanisms remain weak.
Norway recommends that Japan:
- introduces a formal moratorium on executions and takes concrete steps towards the total abolition of the death penalty;
- ensures that enforcement mechanisms against discrimination, harassment and hate speech are strengthened to allow women, LGBTQI persons and minorities full and equal participation in society and politics, including access to effective remedy;
- ensures access to safe, timely and affordable sexual and reproductive health care for women, including abortion and contraceptives, through comprehensive legislative and policy reform.
Thank you.