Yuri Igarashi, co-representative director of J-ALL said: “LGBT people in Japan are entitled to equal protection under the law. Others supporting the campaign include Human Rights Watch and Athlete Ally. The groups involved include the Japan Alliance for LGBT Legislation (J-ALL), an umbrella organisation of 100 LGBT groups in Japan. Other prefectures are taking similar measures. Although Japan does not legally recognise same-sex marriage at the national level, local governments, including the Shibuya and Setagaya wards of Tokyo, have taken steps to recognise same-sex partnerships. The campaign calls for the passage of the Equality Act which would protect LGBT people from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.Īs previously documented, LGBT people still face discrimination at home with their families, at work, in education and access to health services. Numerous civil society groups from within and outside Japan launched a campaign #EqualityActJapan in July 2020, ahead of the delayed Tokyo Olympics. Association Human rights groups launch equality campaign ahead of Olympics
Japan’s penal code has also come under international media scrutiny as there is no right to have lawyers present during criminal interrogation – a situation that is made worse by Japan’s allowing suspects to be detained for 23 days without charge or legal assistance. Further, there are no comprehensive laws prohibiting direct or indirect discrimination by public authorities and private entities. Professor Shuichi Furuya from the Waseda Law School and the International Humanitarian Fact Finding Commission said there are many issues of discrimination plaguing Japan in addition to problems with Japan’s criminal justice system. On 14th July 2020, more than 3,500 protesters marched in Tokyo from Yoyogi Park, down Omotesando and through Shibuya, holding signs written in Japanese and English that said "Racism is the real pandemic" and "Black pride, enough is enough!" One officer can later be seen kicking his leg and then, while the man is crouching on the ground, wrapping his arm around his neck. In a video filmed by his friend, police could be seen shoving the man to the ground after he declined to give them permission to search his car. In one, a march against police brutality, more than 500 demonstrators denounced the treatment of a 33-year-old Turkish man of Kurdish origin who was stopped by police driving in downtown Tokyo on 22nd May 2020. In Tokyo, two demonstrations were held in front of and near Shibuya Station. In Osaka, a peace march sponsored by the Kansai chapter of Black Lives Matter drew nearly 1,000 people.
On 7th July 2020, protesters took to the streets of Tokyo and Osaka to speak out against racial prejudice and the violent treatment by police of foreign residents in Japan. The protest occurred amid a wave of demonstrations worldwide following the killing of George Floyd in the United States. Thousands of protesters took to the streets in July to protest against racism and police brutality and spread awareness of racial discrimination in Japan. Peaceful Assembly Protesters rally against racism and police brutality Numerous civil society groups have launched a campaign calling for the passage of an Equality Act which would protect LGBT people from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. In July 2020, thousands joined protests in Japan against racism and police brutality.