National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights (2020-2025).
Country
Type of law
Policy
Abstract
The Objectives of this National Action Plan (NAP) on Business and Human Rights (2020-2025) are: （1） To protect and promote human rights for society as a whole, including international society; （2）To ensure policy coherence in relation to business and human rights; （3）To ensure and enhance the international competitiveness and sustainability of Japanese business enterprises; （4）To contribute to achieving the SDGs.
The NAP is formulated based on the UN Guiding Principles (UNGPs) on Business and Human Rights endorsed by the UN Human Rights Council. It seeks to promote respecting for human rights in the context of business activities. The NAP consists of four chapters: Chapter 1 explains the situation in Japan regarding business and human rights; Chapter 2 sets forth the contents of the NAP; Chapter 3 sets out expectations for business enterprises to promote introducing human rights due diligence in the context of their business activities; and Chapter 4 provides the frameworks for implementation as well as for the update of the NAP.
In Chapter 1, there is an emphasis that the achievement of the SDGs and the protection and promotion of human rights are mutually complementary and are two sides of the same coin; the impact of COVID-19 on human rights around the world that create hardships, particularly for the most vulnerable people in society. Five general priority areas are listed in Chapter 2, as well as Action Plans for Individual Sectors with a series of measures related to business and human rights to be implemented by the Government, along with the names of responsible ministries and agencies. The measures are described in relation to each of the three pillars of the UNGPs, namely: the State duty to protect human rights, the corporate responsibility to respect human rights, and "access to remedy. The section also introduces cross-sectoral issues, such as labor (including promotion of decent work), protection and promotion of child rights, human rights associated with development of new technologies, rights and roles of consumers, equality before the law (including for people with disabilities, women, and those with different types of sexual orientation and gender identity), and acceptance and coexistence of foreign nationals, with corresponding measures for each of the issues.
The NAP is formulated based on the UN Guiding Principles (UNGPs) on Business and Human Rights endorsed by the UN Human Rights Council. It seeks to promote respecting for human rights in the context of business activities. The NAP consists of four chapters: Chapter 1 explains the situation in Japan regarding business and human rights; Chapter 2 sets forth the contents of the NAP; Chapter 3 sets out expectations for business enterprises to promote introducing human rights due diligence in the context of their business activities; and Chapter 4 provides the frameworks for implementation as well as for the update of the NAP.
In Chapter 1, there is an emphasis that the achievement of the SDGs and the protection and promotion of human rights are mutually complementary and are two sides of the same coin; the impact of COVID-19 on human rights around the world that create hardships, particularly for the most vulnerable people in society. Five general priority areas are listed in Chapter 2, as well as Action Plans for Individual Sectors with a series of measures related to business and human rights to be implemented by the Government, along with the names of responsible ministries and agencies. The measures are described in relation to each of the three pillars of the UNGPs, namely: the State duty to protect human rights, the corporate responsibility to respect human rights, and "access to remedy. The section also introduces cross-sectoral issues, such as labor (including promotion of decent work), protection and promotion of child rights, human rights associated with development of new technologies, rights and roles of consumers, equality before the law (including for people with disabilities, women, and those with different types of sexual orientation and gender identity), and acceptance and coexistence of foreign nationals, with corresponding measures for each of the issues.
Attached files
Web site
Date of text
Repealed
No
Publication reference
Inter-Ministerial Committee for Japan’s National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights.
Source language
English
Legislation Amendment
No