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Monthly Event Reports

July 2023 | Supreme court rules toilet restrictions on transgender persons illegal

Japan’s Supreme Court on 11 July issued a landmark ruling against a government ministry saying it is unlawful to restrict transgender persons from using certain bathrooms in the workplace. The decision marks the first time a top court has made a ruling on bathroom usage by sexual minorities, with LGBTQIA+ activists hopeful that the ruling will set a positive precedent for other cases related to working conditions for transgender persons.

June 2023 | Controversial immigration bill passed by parliament

Parliament on 6 June passed a bill to amend the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act, allowing the government to deport asylum seekers who apply for refugee status more than twice. The bill faced heavy criticism from opposition lawmakers, human rights experts, and civil society organizations, claiming that the new legislation enables the government to repatriate those who are at risk of persecution in their home countries. Critics note that the new bill creates unnecessary obstacles for asylum seekers in what are already considered to be stringent regulations for granting refugee status.

May 2023 | Pressure grows to end same-sex marriage ban

The Nagoya District Court ruled on 30 May that not allowing same-sex marriage was unconstitutional, marking a significant step forward for LGBTQIA+ rights in Japan. This is the first time a court has ruled that Japan's denial of same-sex marriage violates multiple articles of the constitution. However, the court rejected the plaintiffs' demand for compensation. The latest ruling follows previous verdicts by the Sapporo, Osaka, and Tokyo district courts over recent years, which delivered conflicting opinions on the constitutionality of the ban. LGBTQIA+ rights groups remain hopeful that the series of court cases will help push the debate over whether Japan will act on same-sex marriage legalization in the future.

April 2023 | Health ministry approves nation’s first abortion pill

Japan’s Health Ministry on 28 April formally approved an abortion pill for the first time, providing women with an alternative to surgery. The approval marks a major step forward for reproductive rights in the country. However, challenges remain in accessing safe abortions, with debates revolving around cost and consent requirements. Abortions are not covered by public health insurance, and many hospitals still require a partner’s consent, which rights activists argue continues to deny women the right to bodily autonomy.

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GSoD Indices Data 2013-2022

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Basic Information

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Population Tooltip
125 681 590
System of government
Parliamentary system
Head of government
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida (since 2021)
Head of government party
Liberal Democratic Party
Electoral system for lower or single chamber
Parallel
Women in lower or single chamber
9.9%
Women in upper chamber
25.8%
Last legislative election
2022
Effective number of political parties Tooltip
4.22
Head of state
Emperor Naruhito
Selection process for head of state
Hereditary or election by hereditary state rulers
Latest Universal Periodic Review (UPR) date
14/11/2017
Latest Universal Periodic Review (UPR) percentage of recommendations supported
66.82%
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Human Rights Treaties

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State Party State party
Signatory Signatory
No Action No action
United Nations Human Right Treaties
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
State Party
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
State Party
International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination
State Party
Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women
State Party
Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment
State Party
Convention on the Rights of the Child
State Party
International Convention on Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families
No Action
International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance 
State Party
International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
State Party
International Labour Organisation Treaties
Forced Labour Convention
State Party
Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention
State Party
Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention
State Party
Equal Remuneration Convention
State Party
Abolition of Forced Labour Convention
No Action
Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention
No Action
Convention concerning Minimum Age for Admission to Employment
State Party
Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention
State Party
in
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Categories of Democratic Performance

Representation neutral Representation
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Representation neutral Rights
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Representation neutral Rule of law
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Representation neutral Participation
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Global State of Democracy Indices

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Representation
Representation
0
/1
high 0.7-1.0
mid 0.4-0.7
low 0.0-0.4
Rights
Rights
0
/1
high 0.7-1.0
mid 0.4-0.7
low 0.0-0.4
Rule of Law
Rule of Law
0
/1
high 0.7-1.0
mid 0.4-0.7
low 0.0-0.4
Participation
Participation
0
/1
high 0.7-1.0
mid 0.4-0.7
low 0.0-0.4
Annual value

Factors of Democratic Performance Over Time

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