GIARI “Human Rights Governance in Asia” Seminar
SUMMARY OF PRESENTATION AND Q&A SESSION
Title

Crimes against children: The need for greater human rights advocacy
across the Asia-Pacific

Presenter

Jean Geran，Ph.D. (Legatum Institute in London)

Date

15 July (Wed), 2009

Location

Room710, Building19, Graduate School of Asia-Pacific Studies, Waseda
University, Nishi-Waseda, Tokyo

Facilitator Yasushi Katsuma, Professor, Waseda University

Presentation
In this lecture, Ms. Jean Geran highlighted human rights violations, humantrafficking issues in Asia (her specialized field), and active human rights advocacy
across the Asia-Pacific. Human rights advocacy has many levels of actors, including
local social networks, NGOs, national governments that have institutional powers toaccess this issue by making new legislation or policies for human rights and executing
the rule of law, and organizations from the international community such as the UN.
The international community can play a positive role in placing pressure on a country
where human rights violations are often ignored or are even legitimated by government.
As approaches regarding human rights advocacy are significantly different between
countries, Geran focused on Burma, where severe threats to humanity continue underthe military regime, and Japan, whose responsibility for human rights advocacy indomestic and regional systems is expected.
In Burma, as well as trafficking of women, girls and children, there is sexual violence
and forced labor including child soldiers. These occur mainly in the heavily militarizedzones of the eastern border regions which are inhabited by many displaced persons,refugees and exiles forced there by the military oppression of the democratic movement.
Crimes against humanity are, in part, political issues of democracy and security, so therole of the Security Council in taking action regarding crimes against humanity isimportant. Geran pointed out that the cooperation of countries through economic
sanctions or through the embargo against Burma should be carried out more effectively.
Regarding Japan, Geran claimed that the government has carried out a lot of good

work in giving development assistance, funding the UN to act for humanity, andlegislating on the protection of women and child rights. Thus, it is expected that Japan
has a lot to offer as a regional leader in promoting democracy and human security.
Japan could use its political diplomatic pressure even more effectively, especially withregard to the transnational issues of human trafficking and the commercial exploitationof children across borders in which Japan is involved. There is a gap between demandand supply sides, so many levels of human rights advocacy and tools are needed.
Discussion (student groups)
How can we carry out human rights advocacy and how can we take advantage ofpolitical will to push our agenda?
Question and Answer Session
Question: What will attract the attention of the younger generation to new problems ofhuman rights?
Answer: In the U.S. using social networks and new technology is probably an effective
way, but each tool will be different in each country. For example, in U.S. high schools
teachers show films to students as part of human rights education. Organized activities
are important and young people’s relationship based connections are changeable. Using
the internet is also powerful. Because the younger generation wishes to change theworld, they are active.
Question: There are no active religious or church-like organizations in Japan. What will
put pressure on Japan to change the situation for humanity? For instance, the situation
had not changed for a long time, but when the U.S. ruled Japan after the war, Japanesegovernment attitudes toward human trafficking issues changed. External pressure
would be effective in Japan.
Answer: In the U.S. internal policy-making structure, the reporting of traffickedpersons from around the world is the most powerful tool that we, the state department,
have. Based on this, what kind of sanctions should be imposed, how to get attention
from many people and local governments, and what new legislation should be passed
are considered. Drafts come through embassies at a regional level and NGOs participate
to articulate reports. But human rights issues are sensitive for each country. Sensitive

negotiations between the U.S. and Japan take place because they are strong allies, andthe U.S. values its bilateral relationship with Japan. We can get the attention of Japanor ask another country to make changes, because there is an effective advocacy system
inside these different places.
Question: At three different levels; local, regional and global levels respectively, how canadvocacy tools address Burma’s situation effectively?
Answer: For thinking about advocacy from different actors’ perspectives, I think thataccess at all of these different levels is hugely important to approach. Trying to move a
country or situation into a better one, Asia is always focused on Burma. Theinternational community as a whole is trying to get Asia to do more or say more, to takemore constructive engagement or more sanctions, but it’s a kind of frustrating exercise,too. Asia did not have any human rights mechanisms for a long time. However, Asia
agreed to a New Charter, yet it is still not effective until Asia complies with the Charter.
There has been no access to Burma for the UN after the cyclone. But efforts to support
the democratic movement and to release political prisoners and democratic leader Aung
San Suu Kyi continue, including various UN offers. Another mechanism is through theUN Human Rights Council, which each country can address. Strong reports on humanrights can become diplomatic pressure. But these are not enough. However, the Security
Council’s actions can focus attention on the situation, because Burmese people arebasically terrified and so cannot voice their opinions. China can provide internalpressure and support, and its role needs to be recalculated more positively, in addition
to other members of Security Council and other Asian countries. All of these areimportant, because the situation changes and is dynamic. The international community
is the most effective channel.