International Advocacy by Social
Workers and SDGs in Japan
Japan Association of Social Workers
International Committee
Yutaka Takamine

1Introduction⚫Systematic international advocacy by Japanese social worker
bodies has been moderate. This seems to have to do withJapan's long economic stagnations, which has reduced its
economic power and the public is turning inward. This is incontrast with the economic bubble period when in 1989, ODA(national development assistance) amounts appeared to be No.
1 in the world.
⚫The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs: 2000-2015), whichwere initiatives before the SDGs, were little known in Japan, but
the SDGs became well known in Japan because they include 17
broad targets, including global warming. As proof of this, they
are daily reported on in the media.
⚫Since the SDGs themselves have much in common with theGlobal Agenda, the Japan Federation of Social Workers (JFSW)
also needs to state its policies in order to systematically address
2international advocacy.

The current situation in thefield of welfare in Japan (I)• After the war, Japan was able to expand to the world anddevelop through economic activities. During thiseconomic development period, Japanese were refered toas ‘economic animals’, but in other fields, there was notmuch advance. It was said that ”Japan sends money, butnot people".
• The Care Worker and Social Welfare Worker Act wasenacted in 1987, and the Mental Health Welfare Workers
Act was enacted in 1997, thus qualifications wereestablished by the sate.
• These qualified personnel are considered to be
responsible for the implementation of the six laws
related to national welfare, and there are few
opportunities for policy advocacy.
3The current situation in thefield of welfare in Japan (II)• The Social Welfare Act was greatly revised in 2000
and the welfare system shifted from a mandatebased one to a contract-based one, but it yet toreach a rights-based system. The Right to Live isguaranteed by the Constitution, but it is suppressedto the minimum level.
• Since the current Social Welfare Worker and Mental
Health Helfare Worker system plays a role in thedomestic welfare system, it is difficult for such
workers to be interested in non-domestic andinternational issues. In particular, there are few
efforts to address human rights issues.
4Citizens are not conscious ofhuman rights• In general, the socially vulnerable persons are
considered as an object of mercy and they are
not considered as equal. The theory of selfresponsibility is dominant.
• There is criticism that even if barrier-freemeasures for people with disabilities advance,
they are part of welfare policy and not a rightsbased system. This is why it is said to be assystem fo ‘barrier-free with no dignity’.
• An independent Human Rights Committee is yet
to be established too.
5

Discrimination against foreign
nationals and human rights violations• The Foreign Technical Intern Training system has beenabused, and the human rights of foreign workers havebeen neglected.
• There are prejudices and discriminations, such as hatespeech against historical minority Koreans in Japan.
• Under the national immigration system, long-term
detention has become a daily occurrence, and there
are many cases where people die of illness while being
detained.
• Japan is a country that ‘accepts laborers but does not
accept immigrants’. It is a country that does not accept
refugees. Is it possible to maintain the country withdeclining birthrates and an aging population?
6

Interest in international social workand international cooperation• Since Dr. Mariko Kimura was elected to Presidentof the Asia-Pacific Region of the International
Federation of Social Workers (IFSW), the Japan
Federation of Social Workers (JFSW), especially its
International Committee has started planningworkshops and other events with other Asiancountries. As a result, social workers’ interest inissues in other Asian countries has graduallyincreased.
• JFSW has also started international advocacy
activities on human rights issues under IFSW
initiatives.
7

Recommendations for advocacy onhuman rights and rocial justice (I)• It is also necessary to express opinions on humanrights issues inside Japan domesitaclly. For example,
shouldn’t social worker bodies express their views
on human rights violations against foreigners
regarding recent deaths at immigration facilities?
• Shouldn’t there be policy statements from social
worker bodies on long-term social hospitalization in
psychiatric hospitals, abuse in facilities for disabled
persons and elderly persons, discrimination against
Hansen's disease patients, LGBTQ+ issues, same-sex
marriage, and voluntary separate family name aftermarriage, etc ?
8Recommendations for advocacy onhuman rights and rocial justice (II)• In the field of banning discrimination, only theAct on the Elimination of Discrimination against
Persons with Disabilities was enacted. This isbecause disability groups themselves engaged
in strong advocacy. Regarding human rights
issues, it is necessary to team up with suchsocial movements by people in the community
because they are leading the way.
• Also, the government has to be engaged withregard to the establishment of an independent
Human Rights Committee.
9Working towards the SDGs
• The SDGs should be incorporated into social work
education and the curriculum in order to provide anopportunity for Japanese social workers to turn theirattention to international issues.
• While focusing on “Goal 3: Good Health and Wellbeing”, we should provide guidelines for addressing
other goals too.
• “Social change” and “Leaving no one behind” are thefoundations of the SDGs, and allign with the Global
Definition of Social Work and our Code of Ethics.
Approaches that incorporate human rights, social
justice and diversity into the 17 goals are expected.
• In particular, we will have to work in partnership
together with other organizations on post COVID-19
initiatives and measures against global warming.
10Conclusion
Japan has not been much involved in international
issues, except for economic activities. The SDGs
provide an opportunity to raise interest ininternational issues.
Social workers in Japan will have a stronger voiceinternationally by tackling domestic issues of humanrights, social justice, and diversity.

11