Act on the Promotion of Human Rights Education and Human Rights Awareness-Raising
(Purpose)
Article 1  In consideration of the increased awareness of the urgent need to respect human rights, the current situation of human rights violations, including the occurrence of unjust discrimination based on social status, family origin, race, creed, or sex, and other domestic and international situations regarding the promotion and protection of human rights, the purpose of this Act is to clarify the responsibilities of the national government, local governments, and citizens for the promotion of policies concerning human rights education and human rights awareness-raising, to provide for necessary measures, and thereby to contribute to the promotion and protection of human rights.
(Definitions)
Article 2  In this Act, human rights education means educational activities to cultivate a spirit of respect for human rights, and human rights awareness-raising means awareness-raising activities including publicity (excluding human rights education) to disseminate the principle of respect for human rights among citizens and deepen citizens' understanding thereof.
(Fundamental Principle)
Article 3  The human rights education and human rights awareness-raising provided by the national government and local governments shall be carried out with a view to providing various opportunities, adopting effective methods, respecting the independence of citizens and ensuring the neutrality of implementing institutions so that citizens deepen and gain an understanding of the principle of respect for human rights at various places, including schools, communities, households, and workplaces, depending on the developmental stage of citizens.
(Responsibilities of the National Government)
Article 4  The national government shall be responsible for formulating and implementing policies on human rights education and human rights awareness-raising in accordance with the fundamental principle of human rights education and human rights awareness-raising provided for in the preceding Article (hereinafter referred to as the "fundamental principle").
(Responsibilities of Local Governments)
Article 5  Local governments shall be responsible for formulating and implementing policies on human rights education and human rights awareness-raising based on the conditions of the community, in accordance with the fundamental principle, while coordinating with the national government.
(Responsibilities of Citizens)
Article 6  Citizens shall endeavor to cultivate a spirit of respect for human rights, and to contribute to the realization of a society in which human rights are respected.
(Establishment of a Basic Plan)
Article 7  The national government shall establish a basic plan on human rights education and human rights awareness-raising in order to comprehensively and systematically promote policies on human rights education and human rights awareness-raising.
(Annual Report)
Article 8  The government shall annually submit to the Diet a report on policies concerning human rights education and human rights awareness-raising implemented by the government.
(Financial Measures)
Article 9  The national government may take financial measures for local governments implementing policies on human rights education and human rights awareness-raising by entrusting activities relevant to those policies to the local governments or through other means.
Supplementary Provisions
(Effective Date)
Article 1  This Act shall come into effect as of the date of promulgation; provided, however, that the provisions of Article 8 shall be applied to policies on human rights education and human rights awareness-raising that shall have been implemented in or after the fiscal year following the fiscal year that includes the date of enforcement of this Act.
(Review)
Article 2  This Act shall be reviewed within three years from the date of enforcement, taking into account the results of study and deliberation by the Council for Human Rights Promotion on basic matters concerning the enhancement of policies for remedies for victims of human rights violations based on Article 3, paragraph (2) of the Act on the Promotion of Policies on Human Rights Promotion and Protection (Act No. 120 of 1996).