Human Rights Now
info@ngo-hrn.org
Marukou Bldg. 3F, 1-20-6, Higashi-Ueno
Taitou-ku, Tokyo 110-0015 Japan
Phone: +81-3-3835-2110 Fax: +81-3-3834-2406

Charter of Human Rights Now
Purpose of Establishing Human Rights Now
Japan has relatively few civil society organizations that address human rights issues from aninternational perspective. The need to establish Human Rights Now – an organization that actively workfor promotion and protection of human rights with a cross-border capability – was keenly felt byJapanese lawyers’ groups and other activists.
Accordingly, we have established a new human rights NGO in which lawyers, academics, journalists,and activists are raising awareness and pursuing the implementation of international human rights
standards both inside and outside Japan, with a special focus on Asian countries. Engagement in humanrights advocacy at global forums such as the United Nations is also being carried out.
The guarantee of irreplaceable human rights for all individual in the world is essential prerequisite toachieve a just and peaceful world. With the cooperation of civil society groups in the world, in particular,development, peace building and other human rights NGOs, Human Rights Now contributes to the questof establishing just, peaceful and secure world for the people, specifically in the aspect of human rights.

Our Mission
The mission of Human Rights Now is to take action to: 1) Contribute to the promotion and protection ofhuman rights worldwide, with a special focus on Asian countries; 2) Contribute to the development ofinternational human rights standards and norms through the UN and other international institutions; and3) Promote the incorporation of international human rights standards within the domestic framework inJapan.
1. Taking action to make an international contribution for human rights
Human Rights Now contributes to the promotion and protection of human rights worldwide, with aspecial focus on Asian countries.
 Conducting field investigations of massive human rights violations and publicizing our findings;
 Advocacy to the state concern, relevant stake holders and UN in order to resolve the humanrights situation

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Empowering and supporting the human rights defenders, and contributing technical assistancefor promotion of human rights within respective legal systems in countries of focus
Areas of activity includes Cambodia, Philippines, Thailand and Myanmar and other (but notlimited to) Asian countries.
2. Taking action through international institutions
Human Rights Now contributes to the development of international human rights standards andnorms through the UN and other international institutionsContributing to the enforcement of human rights standards and norms through monitoring,lobbying, and providing recommendations at United Nations human rights bodies such as theHuman Rights Council
Providing input to ASEAN and other Asian regional bodies from a human rights perspective

3. Taking domestic action to promote human rights
Human Rights Now promotes the incorporation of international human rights standards within thedomestic framework in Japan.
Introducing relevant international standards in public debates over domestic human rights issues
Advocating for the implementation of recommendations made by UN treaty bodies for theimprovement of human rights situation in Japan
Calling for action by the Japanese government and corporations to address serious human rights
violations in other countries
28 July 2006

Founders;
Academics:
Frank Upham (Professor, New York University School of Law)Yasunobu Sato (Professor, University of Tokyo)
Kohki ABE (Dean and Professor of Law, Kanagawa University School of Law)
Shigeki Miyazaki (Honorary Professor, Meiji University)
Setsuo Miyazawa (Professor, Omiya University, School of Law)
Takao Suami (Professor, Waseda University, School of Law)
Akio Kawamura (Associate Professor, Kobe College)
Osamu Niikura (Professor, Aoyama-Gakuin University School of Law)
Tadashi Imai (Professor, Utsunomiya University)
Masanao Murakami (Professor, Osaka University, Graduate School of International Public Policy)
Akihiko Kimijima (Professor, Ritsumeikan University)
Osamu Arakaki (Adjunct Professor, Shigakukan University)

Lawyers:
Toru Motobayashi (former President, Japan Federation of Bar Association(JFBA))
Kensuke Niwa (former Vice-president, JFBA)
Shouichi Yoshikawa (former Vice-president, JFBA)
Yoiko Ando (former Chairperson of the Committee of International Human Rigths Issues, JFBA)
Kimitoshi Yabuki (former Director of the Office of the International Affairs, JFBA)
Toshiro Ueyanagi (former Director of the Office of the International Affairs, JFBA)
Yoko Hayashi (Trustee of Japan Civil Liberties Union, alternate member of the UN sub-Commission on thePromotion and Protection of Human Rights)
Yasushi Higashizawa (Trustee of JCLU, elected member of International Criminal Bar)
Norio Horino (former Director of the General Executive Office, JFBA)
Miyuki Sakai (former Deputy Director of General of Executive Office, JFBA)
Hiromichi Hamada (Tokyo Bar Association)
Takashi Ejiri (Tokyo Bar Association)
Makoto Saito (Tokyo Bar Association)
Yumi Ebihara (Saitama Bar Association)
Akira Kawamura (Dai-ni Tokyo Bar Association)
Isomi Suzuki (Chairperson of International Human Rights Committee, JFBA)
Yukiko Kakuta (Shizuoka Bar Association)
Setsuko Tsuboi (Tokyo Bar Association)
Yasuharu Nagashima (Dai-ichi Tokyo Bar Association)
Matuse Aiso (Dai-ni Tokyo Bar Association)
Mizuno Takeo (Professor of Ritsumeikan University, former Vice-president of JFBA)
Harumichi Uchida (Dai-ni Tokyo Bar Association)
Mitsue Aizawa (Tokyo Bar Association)
Makoto Miyazaki (Osaka Bar Association)
Others:Susumu Oishi (Chairman, Nippon Hyoron Sha, Ltd.)
Osamu Shiraishi (Director, Asia-Pacific Human Rights Information Center)
Makoto Ito (President, Ito-juku)
Chihiro Ito (Journalist)
Katsuhiko Iimuro (Professor of Chukyo University, Editorial Writer of Tokyo-Shimbun)※ The titles of founders described below are the titles at the time of establishment of HRN.