On June 26, Human Rights Now gave an oral statement at the 41st Human Rights Council session in Geneva on threats to freedom of the press in Japan. The statement was given at a meeting where the Special Rapporteur on freedom of expression, Mr. David Kaye, presented a report following up on a number of past reports he had written for his previous country visits, including his 2017 report on Japan.
The text of our oral statement is written below and available in pdf format from the following link: Press-Freedom-Japan_HRC41_Oral_Statement.pdf.
You can also watch a video of our representative giving the statement here.
Thank you, Mr President.
Human Rights Now welcomes the follow-up report of UN Special Rapporteur David Kaye on the freedom of expression in Japan.
The report highlights the failure of the Japanese government to implement the recommendations from his 2017 report, even as recent developments signal further deterioration of Japan’s media freedom.
We reiterate this concern. The government has not taken any step to revise Article 4 of the Broadcast Act or created an independent broadcast regulator as recommended, inviting continued harassment of broadcasters deemed not “politically fair” by a non-independent ministry.
The Specially Designated Secrets Act has also not been revised as recommended, allowing “secrets” to continue to be defined too broadly, which seriously deters rights of access to information
The Special Rappoteur’s recommendations regarding the press club system have also not been addressed. Instead, the government uses the press club to harass and silence journalists who challenge the government’s narrative. Tokyo Shimbun reporter Isoko Mochizuki has been the target of such harassment. The government official serving as the chair of the press club of the Chief Cabinet Secretary frequently intervenes in her questioning to prevent her activities as a watchdog. The government has also sent a series of intimidating warnings to media companies pressuring journalists, including Ms. Mochizuki.
Further, the government has confiscated the passport of investigative journalists, restricting their ability to travel and conduct investigations.
Mr. President, Mr. Kaye, the situation of media freedom in Japan is seriously threatened by acts of the government.
We strongly urge the Japanese government to take serious consideration of the recommendations made by UN special rapporteurs and end the pressure, intimidation and harassment of journalists and threats to media freedom.
Thank you.