Form No. 12 (related to Article 28 of the Act)

2021 Business Report
Specified NPO Human Rights Now
１

Business results

In 2021, we continued to investigate and advocate for the human rights situations in the Asian region,including in Burma (Myanmar), Thailand, Cambodia, and China (human rights activists, violations of freedom ofexpression, business and human rights, and women and children's human rights), and we provided support for
the restoration of democratic politics after the military coup in Myanmar. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, itwill not be easy to provide local educational support, but we are making preparations.
We continued our advocacy at the United Nations General Assembly and Security Council in New York andthe United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, and we continued to engage in global campaigns on
issues such as women's rights, conflict, weapons and human rights, and the ICC.
In Japan, we collaborated with other organizations and lobbied the Ministry of Justice's Criminal Law Review
Committee and Legislative Review Council to revise the criminal law in line with the actual situation of victims. Inaddition, with an eye on lowering the age of majority, we continued our advocacy efforts to resolve the issue ofpeople being forced to appear in pornographic videos. In addition, we conducted follow-up on fact-finding on
human rights issues related to China's Hong Kong and Uyghur regions and the military coup in Myanmar, and forbusiness and human rights, we engaged with companies by industry and encouraged ESG investment. In addition,
we worked on domestic human rights issues such as freedom of speech and expression and the rights offoreigners, and we continued to provide legal consultation to areas affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake.
２Matters related to business implementation（１）Business related to specified non-profit activities
Business nameDatestated inBusiness content
articles ofincorporation(Total project cost [23,960] thousand yen)
ExpensPlace# ofBenefi# of
es
staff
ciary
benefrange
iciaries (1000yen)<Human Rights Violations Fact Investigationand Publication Project>International
supportproject

We have continued to conduct factfinding, collect information and publish
reports on the human rights situation in
Asian regions such as Myanmar, Cambodia,
Thailand, China, and Hong Kong, wherehuman rights situations are a concern, andto make recommendations to government
agencies, the United Nations, etc. We also
conducted lobbying activities, etc.
AllJapan,
Myanmar,China, etc.

With regard to China, where the humanyear New York,rights situation has worsened in recent
Genevayears, we submitted a report to the United
Nations regarding the crackdown on
democracy movements in Hong Kong, westarted weekly meetings and carried out afilm event on large-scale attacks on theUyghur people and we held an online event
about human rights violations.

50

Citizens
generallyinCountless
Myanmar,China,Cambodia,
Thailand,etc.

1,727

In addition, in response to the military
coup in Myanmar in February 2021, wereleased a statement together with otherorganizations condemning serious humanrights violations against peaceful civilians
and calling for the restoration ofdemocratic rule. Together with Myanmar
organizations living in Japan, we submitted
an open letter of inquiry to thegovernment and held a meeting based on
the responses last year on continuing
human rights violations against civilsociety being committed, and the groupsubmitted a statement criticizing theoppression of opposition parties and civilsociety.
We also continued local information
gathering, networking, and research related
to business and human rights.
<Women's Human Rights Project>International
supportproject

In order to revise the criminal law in linewith the actual situation of victims, wemonitored the activities of the Ministry ofJustice's “Criminal Law Review
Committee on Sexual Crimes” and“Legislative Council” and conductedadvocacy activities. In cooperation withother organizations, we sent requests andproposals to the government and politicalparties, and also strengthened activities
to deepen the media's understanding andinterest in criminal law reform throughAllpress lectures and press conferences. Inyear
addition, online events with timely themes
such as digital sexual violence and sexualconsent were also successfully held.
In addition, we conducted a number oflobbying activities, including official
meetings, in order to request legislation toaddress the issue of forcing people toappear in pornographic videos, which wasa concern due to the lowering of the ageof majority in April 2022.
Furthermore, in the wake of the incident
in which a Sri Lankan woman, Wishma
Sandamali, lost her life in a detention
facility run by the Nagoya Immigration
Bureau, we appealed for improvements forthe government to make efforts to ensure
thorough protection and countermeasures

Japan,New York

35

Women
generally inJapan, Asia, Countless
Middle East,
etc.,

2,910

for foreign domestic violence victims
through statements and press
conferences.
Also, in New York, we held an online eventon the empowerment of women in global
supply chains, in line with the theme of
the United Nations Commission on theStatus of Women (CSW) in March.
<Children's Human Rights Project>International
supportproject

International
supportproject

Based on Title Nine of the U.S.
Education Reform Act, we made policy
recommendations and held events calling
for the promotion of gender equality andthe prohibition of gender discriminationin Japanese educational institutions. We
also continued to monitor violations ofchildren's rights overseas, including inMyanmar and Iraq.
<Overseas Human Rights Education
Project>

All
year

In the past, we conducted human rights
education in Myanmar for lawyers,students, etc. in collaboration with theYangon Bar Association, but this year aswell as last year, due to the impact ofCoronavirus, instructors were unable toAlltravel. Although it was difficult, weconsidered the possibility of implementing year
this at refugee camps near the border andwe created a network. However, in thewake of the coup on 1 February 2021, we
held multiple official meetings and press
conferences, and in December we had aguest speaker from the Kachin ethnic
group give a report delivered to society atthe World Human Rights Day event.

Japan, etc.

30Children inJapan,
Countless
Myanmar,Iraq, etc.

1,778

AboutJapan,Myanmar,
Thailand,Cambodia,
China, etc.
25

Civil society,
Lawyers,students inMyanmar,
Thailand,Cambodia,China

100people
directly.
The
rippleeffects
arecountless

2,701

<Human Rights Policy Recommendation
Project>

Research,
research
proposals,anddisseminatio
n projects
forthepromotion
andprotectionofhumanrights

We provided policy recommendations andadvocacy to improve the human rights
situation in Japan in accordance withinternational standards and various United
Nations recommendations, and wecontributed to diplomatic and aid policies.
We continued to make policy
recommendations on mainstream humanrights.
In addition to continuing legal consultationin disaster-stricken areas, we haveAll
prepared and published a statement
year
clarifying issues such as arbitrary
detention from the perspective ofinternational human rights standards
regarding the “recommendations” fromthe expert committee for amending theImmigration Act.
Regarding human rights issues related tobusiness, we will continue to encourage
the Japanese government, companies, andinvestors to comply with the United
Nations Guiding Principles on Businessand Human Rights.
We encouraged people to respect andprotect human rights and strengtheneddialogue. In response to the formulation of
the National Action Plan in Japan, we aim
to legislate human rights due diligence inJapan in order to request further efforts
to realize the purpose of the Guiding
Principles as soon as possible.
Preparations were made to publish theproposal. At the “ILO Parliamentary
League for Activities Promotion 2022
First Study Session'', we also gave alecture on responses to due diligence tomembers of the House of Representatives
from each party, related ministries andagencies, the ILO Japan office, and theJapan Business Federation. In addition,
we held a webinar on the proposal and its
publication, on which the government has
been active, and we conducted advocacy

Japan30

Citizens inCountlessJapan,
Asian
countries,etc.

10,438

activities such as calling for information
accessibility to be added to public
procurement requirements in order toensure the accessibility of information on
products in the market, and proposing a
relief system for small and medium-sizedenterprises.
From a fact-finding perspective, we havesummarized and published the results of asurvey of fishing industry-relatedcompanies conducted in response to theissue of human rights violations against
Indonesian workers on a Chinese fishingvessel. At the same time, we madeproposals to affiliated companies and thegovernment to track and disclose their
suppliers, and to improve domestic laws,and we held a press conference.
Regarding the Y Complex development in
Myanmar, a joint statement has been
issued to investors and Japanesecompanies stating that the development
may violate US sanctions. As forawareness-raising activities, we have held
regular webinars and for the first time, wehave held a one-month intensive course
series called “Business and Human Rights
Academy.'' Other Business and HumanRights events were held through theprivate platform, and we planned an event
to look back on the past 10 years since
the adoption of the Guiding Principles that
attracted 480 people.

Research,research
proposals,anddissemination
projects forthepromotion
andprotectionofhumanrights<United Nations/International Human
Rights Standards Research/Advocacy
Project>
We participated in meetings of the United
Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva,
participated in discussions on human rights
issues in Asia and other regions, andcarried out our own activities in providing
information, making policy
recommendations, and advocacy. In New
York, in collaboration with otherAllyear

Tokyo,NewYork,
Geneva, etc.

Japanese
20

citizens ingeneralCountless2,590

organizations, we promoted advocacy
activities at the United Nations General
Assembly, Security Council, and otherforums on global issues such as
humanitarian disarmament and responses
to humanitarian crisis situations.

<Domestic information provision project>

Research,research
proposals,anddisseminatio
n projects
forthepromotion
andprotection
ofhumanrights

We provided information on the situationof human rights violations in Asia, Japan,
and around the world and ourorganization's policy recommendations
through our website, media, newsletter,etc. We also carried out awarenessraising activities through holding
symposiums, talk events, debriefing
sessions, and publishing. Through holding
online events and other events, we
worked to spread awareness abouthuman rights at various levels and todisseminate international human rights
standards. Furthermore, we areimplementing human rights education
projects and youth festivals for middle
and high school students, holding a
World Children's Day video speech
contest, holding an online summer
school, human rights English
conversation classes, and human rights
education materials for middle and highschool students. We strengthened
human rights awareness activities forthe next generation through thepromotion of human rights.

Allyear

Tokyo,Geneva,
etc.

600

Japan

Countless 1,815

citizens
generally

This year, due to the coronavirus pandemic, there are almost no offline events, and other businesses such as
book and goods sales are not being held.