Topic: Racism and Discrimination

Country: Japan

School : Mahidol University International Demonstration School

Racism and discrimination are problems prevalent in all societies. From the recognize

racism and discrimination happen on the base of race, descent, color, ethnic origin etc. Which

victims can endure or worsen from discrimination based on other factor such as sex, religion,

political opinion and birth or other status (United Nation , 2012). According to the UN report one

of the causes of racism and discrimination is colonialism. Recognize the suffering caused by

colonialism it confirms that, wherever and whenever it happened, it must be condemned and its

reoccurrence prevented. UN further regret that the effects of these structures and practices have

been among the factors lead to lasting social and economic inequalities in many parts of the

world today. Africans and people of Africa descent, Asian and people of Asia descent, and native

people are victims of these actions and continue to be victims (United Nation , 2012)

From 1965 to 2016, it takes fifty years for United Nation (UN) to fight with this problem.

On 21 December, the United Nations General Assembly maintains resolution 2016. It was

established the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial

Discrimination (ICERD). UN create Commission on Human Rights resolution 1997/74 of 18

April 1997, General Assembly resolution 52/111 of 12 December 1997 and following resolutions

of those bodies concerning the opening of the World Conference against Racism, Racial

Discrimination, Xenophobia (Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, 2009).

 Japan is an archipelago country in East Asia who concern about racism and

discrimination. Even though discrimination and racism are regel in Japan but this problem still

occur. Japan is homogenous country most of the population has the same ethnic and culture.

Moreover, Japan also a nationalist country since before the Edo period. From this it leads

xenophobia to happen in Japan. Look back into 1923, when the Great Kanto Earthquake happen,

Japanese people started to hate a Zaitokukai which is a Korean ethic in Japan. The UN Human

Rights Committee released a report to the Japanese government to ban hate speech. The report

expressed concern about remarks hostile to Korean, Chinese, and other foreign residents in Japan

that could foster hatred and discrimination ( Pollmann M. , 2015 ) Even though, Japan cannot

solve this problem but the government has a policy to duel with it. Another discrimination that

Japan also face is gender inequality. In the past Womens achievement and opportunities in the

workplace are very low so, government has a project to promote female servant. According to

white paper on gender equality 2011, the target for the government to promoting the female

servant .Ministries and agencies are develop Plan for the Enlargement of Recruitment and

Promotion of Female (Cabinet office Government of Japan , 2011). Which japan has a good

outcome from this project as the report say womens achievement and opportunities in workplace

are increase (K. , 2014 ).

For many decades problem about racism and discrimination still exist. Which UN has

many policy to duel with it. Japan also face discrimination problem too, especially xenophobia.

Even though Japan has many policy to get rid of this problem but we have a new policy to

present. The policy will mostly about changing perspective of citizen toward foreigner. Start with

teach the children to have a positive thinking by hire a foreigner to be a teacher. Moreover,
government can promote exchange program for children to make them learn the foreigner

culture so, they will understand and accept the foreigner when they grow up.

Biography

- United against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance. (July,

2012,). Retrieved from http://www.un.org/en/letsfightracism/pdfs/United against

Racism_English_web.pdf

- The Durban Declaration and Programme of Action. (2009). Retrieved from

http://www.un.org/en/durbanreview2009/ddpa.shtml

- Pollmann, M. (July, 2015). Japan's Xenophobia Problem. Retrieved from

http://thediplomat.com/2015/07/japans-xenophobia-problem/

- Promotion of Positive Action. (2011, June). Retrieved from

http://www.gender.go.jp/english_contents/pdf/ewp2011.pdf

- K. (2014, October 29). Japan remains near bottom of gender gap ranking. Retrieved from

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2014/10/29/national/japan-remains-near-bottom-of-gender-

gap-ranking/#.VuAE57J97IV