HRN
Announcement of press conference “Report on the results of a survey regarding the enactment of laws to advance the practice of HRDD, such as laws requiring companies and private organizations to perform human rights due diligence (HRDD)”
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Human Rights Now, an international human rights NGO based in Tokyo, is working with the Business and Human Rights Resource Center to promote the implementation of HRDD, including laws that require companies to conduct human rights due diligence (HRDD), in light of human rights violations in business. We conducted a survey to let society know their opinions regarding the enactment of legislation that will move the country forward.
A press conference will be held to announce the investigation results. We would therefore like to ask all news organizations and media personnel for their cooperation in covering this matter.
Press conference information
“Report on the results of a questionnaire survey regarding the enactment of laws to advance the practice of HRDD, such as laws requiring companies and private organizations to perform human rights due diligence (HRDD)”
To all news organizations
Human Rights Now, an international human rights NGO based in Tokyo, works with the Business and Human Rights Resource Center1 to review laws that require companies to conduct human rights due diligence (HRDD) in light of human rights violations in business. We conducted a survey to clarify society’s opinions regarding the enactment of laws that advance the United Nations.
A press conference will be held to announce the investigation results report. We would therefore like to ask all news organizations and media personnel for their cooperation in covering this matter. 【overview】
Date and time: Tuesday, December 19, 2023 from 14:00
Location: 1. ZOOM 2. Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare press conference room (1-2-2 Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku, Central Government Building No. 5, Health, Labor and Welfare press conference room) Access: Subway Marunouchi Line, Chiyoda Line, Hibiya Line
“Kasumigaseki” Station Exit B3a, B3b (direct underground passageway to Central Joint Government Building No. 5), C1
Sponsored by: Certified NPO Human Rights Now
Attendees: *Please note that speakers are subject to change without notice. Kenichi Nishikawa (Human Rights Now management advisor/lawyer) Ryutaro Ogawa (Human Rights Now Executive Director/Attorney) and others Where to apply: Application deadline: Until December 18th (Monday) https://forms.gle/puLRNsynspcSyi1a6
[Background] Since the introduction of the United Nations Guiding Principles for Business and Human Rights in 2011, calls for companies to take steps to respect human rights have increased internationally. In Japan, the “Action Plan on Business and Human Rights (2020-2025)” was formulated in October 2020, and the “Guidelines for Respecting Human Rights in Responsible Supply Chains, etc.” were formulated in 2022. Around the world, laws mandating HRDD and trade regulations (export and import regulations, etc.) that indirectly encourage HRDD are being introduced, mainly in Western countries. Additionally, in South Korea, a bill was submitted to the National Assembly in September 2023 that would make HRDD mandatory. Against this backdrop, the United Nations Working Group on Business and Human Rights conducted a 12-day visit to Japan from July 24 to August 4, 2023, and conducted interviews with government officials, business sectors, and others in Tokyo, Osaka, Aichi, Hokkaido, and Fukushima. We conducted interviews and field surveys with civil society, industry groups, labor unions, workers, researchers, lawyers, and other stakeholders. On the final day of the investigation, the United Nations Working Group published an “End of Mission Statement”34, clarifying its preliminary findings. The United Nations Working Group Statement comprehensively clarified that the current business and human rights situation in Japan is deeply problematic from the perspective of international standards, and that there are many important issues that need to be addressed from the perspective of the United Nations Guiding Principles for Business and Human Rights. Issues were pointed out. Furthermore, in the statement, “Most companies the working group met suggested that requiring HRDD is desirable. This would create a “level playing field” among companies and align them with government policies and standards. This is because the consistency of The business community was of the opinion that without stricter HRDD requirements, there would be no incentive for SMEs to adopt UNDPs. It was also heard that the financial sector needs a legal basis to advance HRDD practices, and that the government should take steps in that direction as well. ” is reported. In light of these current circumstances, this survey is intended to solicit a wide range of opinions regarding the enactment of laws that advance the practice of HRDD, such as laws that require HRDD in each company, and to clarify this to society.
[Inquiries regarding this release]
Certified NPO Human Rights Now Secretariat
Email：info@hrn.or.jp
1 https://www.business-humanrights.org/ja/2
https://hrn.or.jp/news/24569/3 Japanese version
https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/
documents/issues/development/wg/statement/20230804-eom-japan-wg-development-japanese.pdf4
English https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/documents/issues/development/wg/statement/ 20230804-eom-japan-wg-development-en.pdf