6月12日の国連人権理事会本会議において、日本政府は、5月9日の作業部会第二会期で審議され、5月 14日に採択された報告書に盛り込まれた勧告について、それぞれ受け入れるか、受け入れないかの態度表明を行いました。
IMADRの現地報告によれば、特にジェンダー関連について、勧告をフォローアップすることを受け入れるとした項目は、
・女性に対する差別的な法規定をすべて廃止し、女性差別に対する措置を継続すること(60-7)
・マイノリティ女性が直面する問題に取り組むこと(60-8)
・性的指向および性自認に基づく差別を撤廃するための措置を講じること(60-11)
・女性および子どもに対する暴力の減少に向けた対策の実施を継続すること(60-14)
・女性・子どもに重点をおきつつ人身売買と闘う努力を継続すること(60-15)。

女性差別撤廃条約その他の選択議定書の批准は「保留」とされました。
そして、「慰安婦」問題については、「アジア女性基金で解決済み」との従来の主張を繰り返して、死刑や代用監獄、人種差別などに関連する項目とならんで、勧告受け入れを拒否しました。

アジア女性資料センターは、OMCT（反拷問世界機構）との共同声明を出し、日本軍性奴隷制に関する勧告の受け入れを求めました。「大規模かつ組織的な人権侵害」を含む世界の人権問題について積極的にとりくむと公言して人権理事会理事国に再選された国として、非常に残念な、後ろ向きの態度と言わざるを得ません。

アジア女性資料センター・OMCT共同声明
★日本語訳はこちらから
Human Rights Council
8th session (2-18 June 2008)
Item 6: Consideration of UPR-report on Japan

Statement jointly delivered by the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), and the Asia-Japan Women’s Resource Center (AJWRC)

Mr President, Honourable Members of the Human Rights Council,

OMCT and AJWRC warmly welcome the comprehensive examination by the Human Rights Council of the human rights situation in Japan, including gender-based violence and discrimination against women.

We also welcome the fact that the Japanese State has expressed its determination, as a re-elected member of the Council, to implement its obligations under the human rights instruments and to address “situations of violation of human rights, including gross and systematic violations” worldwide in its voluntary pledges and commitments.

We expect the Japanese State to prove its commitment in this regard by addressing the “gross and systematic violations” of women’s human rights for which it is responsible, namely Japan’s military sexual slavery during World War II, as mentioned in paragraphs 15, 26, 32, 37 and 60 (al. 5 and 18) of the report of the Working Group . Since the victims broke the decades of silence, a number of recommendations have been made by the international human rights bodies, including CEDAW and CAT. According to CAT, sexual violence and slavery in this context amount to torture and no statute of limitations should apply “that may prevent investigation, prosecution and punishment of these grave crimes.” It also considered that the remedies provided so far to the victims of military sexual slavery were inadequate and called on Japan to stop the “continuing abuse and re-traumatization” that result from “official denial of the facts, concealment or failure to disclose other facts, failure to prosecute those criminally responsible for acts of torture, and failure to provide adequate rehabilitation to the victims and survivors.” However to date, the Japanese State has not acted on any of these recommendations, while a number of survivors have passed away without obtaining justice.

We call on Japan to urgently act on all recommendations including those on military sexual slavery without reservation, and set a best practice in ensuring remedies for the survivors of the most serious forms of violence against women in armed conflict. Otherwise, its failure to do so will raise serious doubt as to its ability to act as a responsible member of the Council.

Thank you.

[1] During the review of Japan on May 9, several countries [France, the Republic of Korea, China, the Netherlands and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea ] called on Japan to respond sincerely to the recommendations of the UN human rights mechanisms as well as the international community, and two related-recommendations are included in the conclusion.
[2] Further, in recent years, the United States, Canada, the European Union, the Netherlands and the Philippines have also passed resolutions urging Japan to apologize and provide redress for victims of these serious human rights violations.