Japan

Status of International legal instruments protecting the right to food and nutrition (signatory, ratification):

  • International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights - 30th May 1978; 21st June 1979
  • Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women - 17th July 1980; 25th June 1985
  • International Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Racial Discrimination - 15th Dec 1995
  • Convention on the Rights of the Child - 21st Sept 1990;  22nd Apr 1994
  • ILO Convention concerning Indigenous and Tribal Peoples in Independent Countries (169) - Not Ratified
  • United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples - Yes

For more information visit the website of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)  

INDICATORS

  • Non discrimination

    • Anti-discrimination laws at national level

      Read more
      • 1997→ Ainu cultural revival legislation to protect the minority of Ainus.
      • Article 14 of the Japanese constitution states that all people or citizens are equal under the law, and they cannot be discriminated against politically economically or socially on the basis of race, belief, sex or social or other background.
      • [In Japan discrimination of sex, sexual orientation, and race is still seen despite it being written in the legislation]
      • Does not have civil rights legislation which prohibits or penalizes discriminatory activities committed by citizens, businesses or ngos.

  • Outcomes

    • Stunting


      Stunting prevalence in children under 5       Read more

      7%

    • Political Participation


      Rating on consensus building and civil society participation       Read more

      --

    • Child marriage


      Rates of child marriage       Read more

      n/a

  • People’s Sovereignty over natural resources

    • Laws protecting industrial seeds

      Read more

      Privatised seeds:

      • Can harvest and sow their own seeds if it was propagated by the seed
      • Cant’ gift them
      • Can’t harvest and sell them
      • Can be seized and destroyed

    • Pesticide use by volume and by expenditure

      Read more

      Fungicides and Bactericides:22825.10

      Herbicides:11979.50

      Insecticides: 17547.80

  • Political Participation for the Right to Food

    Participation is one of the fundamental human rights principles, requiring that everyone has the right to participate in making decisions that affect them. In order to ensure that those most affected by violations to the right to food and nutrition participate in political processes, it is essential to have the legal and policy infrastructure within national frameworks, as well as the participatory spaces that give meaningful space for participation.

    • Legal Recognition of the Right to Food and Nutrition


      Is Right to Food recognized in the legal system       Read more

      Constitutional Recognition of the Right to Adequate Food

      There is an implicit mention of the protection of the right to adequate food

      Article 25 ““All people shall have the right to maintain the minimum standards of wholesome and cultured living. In all spheres of life, the State shall use its endeavors for the promotion and extension of social welfare and security, and of public health.”

      National status of international obligations

      Article 98.2: “The treaties concluded by Japan and established laws of nations shall be faithfully observed.”