Japan - International Disability Alliance

CRPD Compliance Efforts before Ratification- Case of Japan Nagase Osamu 長瀬修 Institute on Disability & Communication Civil Society Forum 11 September 2012 U.N. Headquarters

Why did disability rights movement in Japan block the ratification?  March 2009 When the government in power then tried to send the CRPD for parliament for ratification, Japan Disability Forum (JDF) successfully lobbied against it.  JDF was for the implementation of the CRPD and against the ratification of the CRPD without serious and effective harmonization efforts.  Ratification has been done only when major harmonization is in place, eg. CEDAW

Time line  September 2007 Signature by Japan  March 2009 Governmental Attempt for Ratification blocked  August 2009 Election of House of Representatives  September 2009 New Government, whose manifesto included CRPD harmonization, took power

Time line  January 2010 Committee for Disability Policy Reform, Cabinet Office, whose majority were from disability community, started, meeting more than 20 times in 2010

June 2010 Cabinet Decision Road map for ratification  First Step: 2011 Major Revision of Fundamental Law for Persons with Disabilities  Social model definition of persons with disabilities      

 Limitation in daily and social life caused by impairment and social barriers

Lack of reasonable accommodation as discrimination Community-living Inclusive education Sign language as language Disaster-preparedness International Cooperation

June 2010 Cabinet Decision Road map for ratification  Second Step: 2012 New Services Legislation  Inclusion of chronic sickness as disbility  Home visit care for persons with intellectual and psychosocial disabilities  Support for decision-making

June 2010 Cabinet Decision Road map for ratification

 Third and final step: 2013 Enactment of an independent law to prohibit disability discrimination, covering reasonable accommodation and remedies.  Political instability - House of Representatives (Lower House) controlled by the parties in power while the House of Councillors (Upper House) controlled by the opposition

Implementation of the CRPD remains a big challenge before and after  Wish those us in Japan the best of luck so that we can promote the implementation of the CRPD and join States Parties soon, please!