About HURIGHTS OSAKA


 

Rationale & History

Discussions within the United Nations in the early 1980s about the possibility of establishing a regional human rights mechanism in the Asia-Pacific triggered the appeal by the late Yo Kobota, a Japanese United Nations officer, for the creation of an institution that would contribute to the realization of this regional human rights arrangement. He sought Japan's role in promoting human rights in the region by setting up a Human Rights Information Center in Asia. He proposed to set up the institution on the "...strengths of the people and the local governing bodies."

 

The civil society movement in Osaka, in response to this call, appealed to the Osaka city and prefectural governments to help establish such a Human Rights Information Center. After a decade of preparation by both the civil society movement and the local governments in Osaka, the Asia-Pacific Human Rights Information Center was inaugurated on 17 December 1994. It was given the short name "HURIGHTS OSAKA."

 

Since then, HURIGHTS OSAKA has been undertaking different initiatives on the promotion of human rights in Asia and the Pacific in collaboration with local, national, regional and international institutions.

 

In 2009, HURIGHTS OSAKA obtained a special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations. In 2012, HURIGHTS OSAKA became a general foundation under Japanese law.

 

Goals

HURIGHTS OSAKA aims to achieve the following goals:

  1. Engender popular understanding in Osaka of the international human rights standards
  2. Support international exchange between Osaka and countries in Asia-Pacific through collection and dissemination of information and materials on human rights
  3. Promote human rights in Asia-Pacific in cooperation with national and regional institutions as well as the United Nations.

 

Activities

HURIGHTS OSAKA engages in the following activities:

 

  1. Information Collection and Dissemination - collection of materials on human rights, including information on human rights issues and practices, and their dissemination to the Asia-Pacific region in print, digital and other forms;
  2. Research - study of a range of human rights issues relevant to the region (such as marginalization of indigenous peoples, minorities, refugees, migrant workers and other vulnerable groups; discrimination based on social status; development and human rights) in cooperation with qualified individuals and institutions;
  3. Education - provision of educational activities at domestic and regional levels to promote better understanding and practice of human rights. This includes development of appropriate teaching/learning and training materials for individuals and institutions (including private and public corporations);
  4. Publication - production of materials in English and Japanese languages such as newsletter, booklet, journal, occasional paper, audio-visual aid, and other materials;
  5. Consultancy - provision of advisory services on human rights programs and research.

 

Other Information

HURIGHTS OSAKA maintains a library with books, journals, magazines, and reports on human rights concepts, issues, practices, programs, institutions. Materials on related issues such as the history, political/social/economic/cultural systems of countries in the Asia-Pacific are also included in the collection. The materials are sourced from human rights organizations and centers, universities and commercial publishing companies. Information on the materials can be accessed through the website of HURIGHTS OSAKA.

 

HURIGHTS OSAKA has a meeting room for seminars, briefing sessions and other activities.