Human Rights Now
7F Creative One Akihabara Bldg. 5-3-4 Ueno
Taito-ku,Tokyo, JAPAN110-0005

http://hrn.or.jp/eng/
Phone: +81-3-3835-2110 Fax: +81-3-3834-1025
Emailinfo@hrn.or.jp
Abe Kohki, DirectorKazuko Ito, Secretary-General

Human Rights Now~Towards a world where human rights are protected for all~About Us
Human Rights Now (HRN) is an international human rights NGO based in Tokyo, Japan withUN special consultative status. HRN was established in 2006 by a group of human rights
professionals, such as lawyers, scholars, and journalists, as the first international human rights
NGO based in Japan. With over 700 members comprised of various human rights specialists,
HRN works for the promotion and protection of human rights for people in the world, with aspecial focus on Asia.
In 2012, HRN obtained UN special consultative status, and we have actively engaged in the UN
decision-making process to protect and promote human rights.

Our Mission
1. Contribute to the promotion and protection of human rights worldwide, with a special focus
on Asian countries;
2. Contribute to the development of international human rights standards and norms throughthe UN and other international institutions;
3. Promote the incorporation of international human rights standards within the domestic
framework of Japan.
In particular, we seek to make a concerted effort to improve the human rights situation in theAsian region. We spare no effort in making a positive difference by highlighting the human1

rights situation and enabling victims of rights violations to have their voices heard, and wewelcome close cooperation with international and grassroots NGOs around the world to achievethese goals.

Where We Work
Currently, HRN has a presence in Tokyo, Osaka, New York and Geneva, and our activities
extend throughout Asia and to conflict areas of the Middle-East.

Our Approach
As an Asian-based international human rights NGO, HRN is able to add unique andindependent value to the decision making processes of UN human rights mechanisms, where
human rights remain politicized and voices on the ground are not sufficiently heard. HRN tries
to change the debate over human rights in the world, where double standards remain embedded,and the voices of the most vulnerable people are ignored, while strong states and actors enjoy
immunity over serious human rights violations. HRN believes that it is important to address theroot causes of current international disputes and grave human rights violations, such as
structural injustices and discrimination within the current international order.
Human Rights Now cooperates with numerous actors from around the world, including theGlobal South, aiming to facilitate a fair decision-making process within the international
community that reflects the opinions of all stakeholders, especially those who are mostvulnerable and suffering.

Our Methodology
Our approach to human rights work consists primarily of conducting 1) fact-finding
investigations, 2) advocacy and campaigns, and 3) empowerment through education.

1. Fact-Finding
HRN conducts fact-finding missions in places where people suffer from serious violations ofhuman rights and humanitarian law. Such missions include conducting field investigations,publicizing reports and calling for international attention to an issue.
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Past investigations includes extrajudicial killings in the Philippines (2007), human rights
violations in the course of crackdowns against peaceful demonstrations in Myanmar (Burma,2008), the human rights situation in occupied Palestine territory (2009), hazardous child labourin Northeast India (2010), the human rights situation of people affected by the Great Earthquake
in Japan (2011, 2012), land grabbing and extrajudicial killing in Cambodia (2012), the right tohealth of children affected by the conflict in Iraq (2013), and business and human rights in
Bangladesh and China.

2. Advocacy
As an international human rights NGO with special consultative status at the UN, HRN has
made various advocacy efforts toward the decision-making processes of UN human rights
bodies and other international mechanisms to protect and promote human rights around theworld.
HRN has urged UN bodies, such as the UN Human Rights Council and General Assembly, totake appropriate measures to stop ongoing serious human rights violations and to bring justiceto those responsible for such serious violations.
HRN also conducts awareness-raising campaigns to mobilize public attention to address serious
human rights situations around the world. HRN also advocates to relevant stakeholders ofhuman rights situations, including state concerns as well as multinational corporations.
HRN’s past campaign and advocacy areas include the situation in Myanmar (Burma),
Philippines, Cambodia, occupied Palestine territory, human rights violations in relation to theGlobal War on Terror (USA) and corporate social responsibility issues related to global industry.
HRN also advocates to the Japanese government, Japanese aid agency and Japanese industry toimprove human rights policy and behaviour in accordance with international human rights
standards.

3. Empowerment
HRN gives full support to grassroots efforts of civil societies based on the firm belief that suchactivities can make a real difference for human rights situations on the ground.

3Issues
HRN focuses on the following issues: armed conflicts, accountability for gross human rights
violations; business and human rights; human rights defenders; economic, social and culturalrights; and the rights of women, children, ethnic minority groups and other vulnerable peoples.

Accountability for Gross Human Rights Violations
HRN seeks accountability for gross violations of international human rights and humanitarianlaw, such as war crimes and crimes against humanity. We work to end impunity for grave
violations of human rights based on the firm belief that achieving justice and accountability
could prevent a recurrence of such violations and lay a foundation for long-lasting peace.
In particular, understanding that the status quo often fails to seek accountability for violations
by strong states, HRN demands justice and accountability for crimes perpetrated by thestrongest states. In this respect, HRN focuses on human rights violations committed in thecourse of the Global War on Terror and violations committed in occupied Palestinian territories.
At the same time, HRN works to end impunity and support transitional justice processes invarious Asian countries.

Armed Conflict
In today’s world, many innocent live are lost every year as a result of armed conflict. In
response, HRN investigates and reports on the violations of international human rights andhumanitarian law committed on the ground during armed conflicts, and it urges the international
community to prevent further human rights violations by raising alarms and condemning them,as well as by taking steps towards justice and accountability by creating independent
commissions of inquiry and bringing cases before the ICC. Moreover, HRN condemns the useof inhumane weapons and calls for their abolishment.
Further, HRN investigates and advocates against human rights violations committed by states’
armies under military dictatorships and in the course of militarization.

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Business and Human Rights
Today, global business enterprises are causing serious human rights violations in the course of
their business in developing countries, such as labour rights violations and exploitation,
deprivation of land rights and indigenous people’s rights, environmental contamination causing
devastating impacts for people’s rights to health and livelihood, and so on.
HRN calls on multinational corporations to respect human rights in the course of their businessin accordance with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.
In cooperation with local NGOs, HRN carries out investigations on human rights violations
related to corporate activities in Asia, including Japan, China, Cambodia, and Bangladesh. We
also have dialogues and consultations with the relevant business sectors in order for them tomaximize their influence to respect and ensure fundamental human rights for people related totheir businesses.

Children’s Rights and Girl’s Rights
HRN conducts fact-finding investigations on human rights violations against children and girls,
and it makes policy recommendations to protect their rights. The area includes the issues oftrafficking, child labour, armed conflict, and violations of the right to health.

Human Rights Defenders and Democratic SpaceIn many countries around the world, human rights defenders are subjected to threats, judicial
harassment, surveillance, arbitrary detention and even attacks and killings, and those who callfor democratization are oppressed. At the same time, demonstrations are severely restricted andeven brutally cracked down.
HRN works on the protection of human rights defenders by awarding and highlighting theirwork, by documenting and investigating attacks against human rights defenders, and by raising
alarms when their situations are at risk. In particular, HRN supports women human rights
defenders in Asia by awarding a significant woman human rights defender every year.

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HRN also calls on state actors to ensure rights to freedom of assembly and association, oppose
excessive restrictions and use of force, and work to protect a democratic space for people
around the world.

Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
HRN believes that deprivation of ESC rights is grave violation of the most fundamental humanrights, and thus gives special focus to these rights.
We work on the violations of ESC rights in the name of “development” such a land grabbing
and violations of indigenous rights. We also work on labour rights violations and exploitation in
the course of global business.
HRN has also worked on ESR rights following the 3.11 triple disaster in Japan, with special
focus on the right to health of people affected by the nuclear disaster in Fukushima.

Women’s Rights
Even today, women around the world continue to be subjected to discrimination, violence anddeprivations of freedoms. Simply because of their gender, women can be deprived of theirsecurity, independence and even subjected to unjust imprisonment, torture, and execution.
HRN, working together with NGOs from around the world and especially in Asia, takes actions
to end domestic violence, human trafficking, honor killing of women, military rape, and anyother violence against women. HRN also works on the elimination of discriminatory and unjust
punishment as well as the execution of women.

Our Achievements
For over nine years, we have made a difference through our tireless work in collaboration withlocal people. Nevertheless, our challenge to help establish a more just and fair world has yet tobe accomplished. We endeavor to strengthen our capacity and influence in order to protect evenmore people at risk and to make concrete progress towards a better world.

61. Fact-Finding
China ~ Business and Human Rights
In 2014, HRN conducted an undercover investigation into the supplier factories of Fast
Retailing (FR), a Japanese major apparel company renowned globally for its brand nameUNIQLO. The investigation was part of a joint project with a Hong-Kong based labour NGO toexamine whether the human rights of the factory workers were being protected. Together withpartner NGOs, HRN published an investigative report describing the details of exploitative
labour conditions in two supplier factories, as well as carried out campaigns for the protectionof human rights in global supply chains and the improvement of working conditions in Asian
garment factories, all of which attracted much attention. FR acknowledged several facts pointed
out in our report and published an action plan to improve the situation. HRN is currently
engaged in a process of dialogue with FR to help bring forth positive changes on the matter.
India ~ Child LaborIn Meghalaya State, located in the northeastern part of India, it was estimated that in recent
years more than 70,000 children have worked in hazardous mines annually and lost their lives
after being exploited in slave-like conditions. Many of the child labourers were brought from
Bangladesh and Nepal by human trafficking. In 2009, HRN and local partners from the Impulse
NGO Network investigated the extremely hazardous situation of child labor in Jaintia Hills,
Meghalaya, and published a report on it. We held a press conference in Delhi which attracted
considerable attention from both India and the UN, and it brought positive attention to thematter. In 2014, hazardous mines in Meghalaya State were shut down and the use of childlabour in mines was prohibited based on the decision of the ‘Green Court’ in India, a special
court established in 2010 to deal with environmental cases.
The Philippines ~ Extrajudicial Killings
In the 2000s, it was estimated that nearly 800 human rights activists were attacked and killed in
the Philippines. At the request of a local NGO in 2007, HRN conducted a field investigation in
the Philippines and concluded that the military and the police were strongly suspected ofinvolvement in the murders through extra-judicial killings of human rights activists. Based on7

the findings, HRN called on the Philippine government to take immediate measures to prevent
further killings, and it called on the Japanese government, the Philippines’ largest donor country,
to suspend its assistance to the Philippines until the killings stop. HRN held a press conference
to address the issue, which received a great response from both domestic and internationalcommunities. In cooperation with UN experts and other NGOs, HRN conducted an extensive
advocacy campaign. As a result of increased international pressure, the number of murders in
the country has been dramatically reduced.

2. Advocacy
Myanmar (Burma) ~ Towards Freedom and Democratization
Since 2007, HRN has been working in cooperation with local people to improve the humanrights situation in Myanmar. We contributed to the current democratization process in Myanmar
through a series of advocacy campaigns, including an international awareness raising campaign
and UN-level advocacy for adopting resolutions on Myanmar, with a special focus on the UN
Human Rights Council.
HRN also co-organized the International Tribunal on Crimes against Women in Burma, an event
held in Tokyo in 2010 after the New York Tribunal shed light on grave human rights violations
against women conducted by Myanmar’s military government. Through the project, HRN madea strong appeal to the international community regarding the severity of violence against women
perpetrated by the military regime.
Cambodia ~ Introducing Victims’ Perspectives in the Special Tribunal for Cambodia
The Khmer Rouge, a political party under Pol Pot which seized power in Cambodia in the late1970s, committed countless grave human rights violations, including the torture and massacresof many civilians and intellectuals. When the Special Tribunal for Cambodia was established in2006 to deal with these human right violations, HRN offered support to ensure that the tribunal
would lead to a successful peace-building process within Cambodian society.
In particular, HRN contributed to the introduction of a system for victims’ participation within
the tribunal process. HRN published an opinion paper, “Justice for Victims”, and visited
Cambodia to have a dialogue with relevant actors and stakeholders. As a result, a tribunal rule8

clearly established a process to allow victim participation in the proceedings. Today, many
victims participate in the tribunal as a party, and they have started to break their silence bydiscussing their experiences openly within their communities.

3. Empowerment
Myanmar (Burma)
Since 2007, HRN has supported a law school called Peace Law Academy (PLA) in Mae Sot,
Thailand, near the border of Myanmar, with the aim of providing grassroots support for
Myanmar youth who are striving to change their society under the legacy of the military
dictatorship.
We have been empowering these youth, who are bearers of the country’s future, by providingthem a series of lectures and courses to teach on a wide range of topics, including international
human rights standards, the international human rights framework for protecting rights on theground, and comparative studies of various legal systems.
The school has produced three generations of graduates since 2007, with over 75 students,
including ethnic minorities and women. Today, many of the graduates have returned to
Myanmar and are actively working to promote human rights and democracy in the country.
Since 2014, HRN has operated a human rights education program inside Myanmar incollaboration with the Yangon Bar Association to provide human rights education to local
lawyers and citizens.
Northeast Asia
HRN has provided a number of capacity-building programs to human rights defenders inNortheast Asia. HRN actively participates in a series of trainings for human rights NGOs in theregion, and works to strengthen networking among human rights defenders there.

9How can you support Human Rights Now?
Donate Now!!
Human Rights Now is a non-profit and non-governmental human rights organization trying to makea difference and create positive change in the world, working towards a more prosperous andpeaceful future by promoting and protecting human rights.
HRN does not receive any government funding, so it relies on generous donations by people like youfrom all over the world to defend human rights and to stop human rights abuses. We would greatly
appreciate it if you can make a contribution and support our work.
Please donate and make a difference. Thank you very much.
Please find details at: http://hrn.or.jp/eng/join/

Bank Details
Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Account No. 337-5466424, Swift code: botkjpjt,
Account Name, Tokutei Hieiri Katsudou Houjin, Human Rights Now
Before your donation, please contact us; Email info@hrn.or.jp

Membership
For those particularly passionate about human rights issues, there is an opportunity to become amember of HRN. Membership allows individuals to support HRN in its mission to improve humanrights around the world in a more active way, while also providing members with a number ofentitlements and perks. All members will receive our newsletter (for residents in Japan), entitlement
to a tax deduction in Japan, and the chance to help and participate in HRN events, while Full Time
Members also receive voting rights at our general meetings to decide what human rights issues toundertake and invitations to our exclusive seminars (for residents in Japan).
Please find details at: http://hrn.or.jp/eng/join/be-a-member/
Membership Fee

Member Type

Annual Membership Fee
Individual Membership $100 or ￥10,000

Full Member

Student Membership* $30 or ￥3,000
Corporate Membership $1,000 or ￥100,000

Supporting Member Individual$50 or ￥5,000

10Internships
Internship positions at Human Rights Now (HRN) are unpaid but will provide you extensive
practical experience in global human rights issues.
Internship positions are available in our Tokyo, New York, Geneva, and Yangon offices.
Research interns conduct legal research, draft statements and reports, network, and particularly in
NY and Geneva have the opportunity to observe various UN conferences.
http://hrn.or.jp/eng/join/volunteer/
We would be happy for interested residents of any of these cities to become volunteers at any
Human Rights Now office, helping administrative and PR work!
If you are interested in volunteering at HRN, please read the site linked below and contact us:

Email: info@hrn.or.jp

Learn more about Human Rights Now!
Who we are and how we are making a
difference around the world!

http://hrn.or.jp/eng/11