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 Women’s 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 women’s 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-gendergap-ranking/#.VuAE57J97IV
