Message from the President | Tokyo Metropolitan Human Rights Promotion Center

The twenty-first century is referred to as the “century for human rights.” In 1948, the United Nations adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which declares that “all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.”Since then, Japan has also taken diverse measures to realize a society in which human rights are respected.

On the other hand, when looking at society today, various human rights violations unfortunately still occur. Society is now facing unprecedented issues such as discrimination and bullying from COVID-19 and anonymous slanders on the internet, which has made the need for efforts to eliminate discrimination and prejudice even more important.

One recent example of efforts to counter such problems was the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games, finally held in 2021 after a one-year delay due to COVID-19. A fundamental principle of Olympism set out in the International Olympic Committee’s Olympic Charter is that the Games are to be held “without discrimination of any kind.” Additionally, one of the core concepts embraced by Tokyo 2020 was “unity in diversity.” Realizing Tokyo as a city that respects human rights is therefore an urgent and important issue.

The Tokyo Metropolitan Human Rights Promotion Center was established with the aim of contributing to the solution of human rights issues such as the Dowa issue (discrimination against Burakumin, a minority group specific to Japan), conducting programs for education, public awareness and protection of human rights, and raising awareness of human rights among Tokyo citizens. Against a changing backdrop of human rights, we work in close cooperation with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government to faithfully develop various public awareness projects that address human rights issues. Specifically, we promote participation, experience and exchange initiatives that focus on today’s youth to help to realize the goals of the metropolitan government’s Inclusive City Tokyo Project. Our other public awareness activities include publishing the information magazine Tokyo Jinken (Tokyo human rights), dispatching lecturers for enterprise-sponsored in-house training on human rights, providing human rights study programs for primary and junior high school students in Tokyo, offering consultations to those experiencing human rights violations, presenting exhibits at the Tokyo Metropolitan Human Rights Plaza (which we manage for the Tokyo Metropolitan Government) and holding lectures on human rights issues for citizens of Tokyo.

In carrying out these projects, we will continue to proactively use the online environment in view of the COVID-19 situation settling down and focus on public relations such as providing the latest news via the internet, as well as create public awareness posters about human rights that attract the attention of Tokyo citizens.

As a Public Interest Incorporated Foundation of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, our officers and employees together focus on ensuring respect for the individual and equality under the law without overlooking various issues related to human rights, with the aim of creating a bright society without discrimination or prejudice.

January 1, 2024
Nagatoshi Nakamura
President
Tokyo Metropolitan Human Rights Promotion Center