HURIGHTS OSAKA
(Asia-Pacific Human Rights Information Center)
Plan of Activities, 2003
-April 2003-

 Basic Policy

   Hurights was established in July 1994 and will be in its 10th year in July 2004. The year 2003, being the 9th year since establishment, will be a time for preparations for its 10th anniversary, and Hurights will need to recapitulate it's activities for the past 9 years, and set forth its basic strategy for the future. In the meantime, the UN Decade for Human Rights Education (1995-2004), on which Hurights has focused its efforts, will also conclude, and will require a recap of its results.
   Meanwhile, this year will be the beginning of the UN Literacy Decade, (2003-2012), as well as the Year of Freshwater, and ASEAN-Japan Exchange Year. International meetings, such as the World Water Forum, UN Disarmament Conference, UNESCO Anti-Racism follow-up will be held in Osaka. Japan is expected to have a new national human rights institution (Human Rights Commission) this year, and the need for dialogue and exchange among Asia-Pacific regions on how an independent national human rights institution based on Paris Principles should be is increasing. The second Asia Pacific Decade for Disabled Persons (2003-2012) will also begin, and interest in the area will heighten, as the discussions for drafting a convention on the rights of disabled persons progress within the UN.
   Hurights has pursued it's activities since 1997 with the following 4 goals.
(1) Promote human rights in Asia-Pacific region
(2) Reflect the Asia-Pacific perspective in the international process of promotion and protection of human rights
(3) Reflect the human rights perspective in Japan's international cooperation and support activities in the Asia-Pacific
(4) Raise awareness of human rights in the age of internationalization
   Hurights will continue to support the promotion and protection of human rights in the Asia-Pacific, as well as strengthen its capacities as an information center, and focus our activities in the following areas in the fiscal year 2003, to respond to domestic and international expectations.


 Focus Targets

1. Strengthening Human rights information center capacities
   Hurights is in its 9th year since its establishment in July 1994. The capacities as a human rights information center is central to Hurights, and strengthening its information collection and dissemination capacities according to Hurights' distinctive features, is one of our major concerns.
   Based on the discussions and advice from the Library sub-committee held last year, we will elaborate a library/material collection and disposal policy, strengthen information collection and dissemination capacities throughout our activities, and renew the library data base system based on our role, major target groups, and the available information.
   We will also enhance our website, and strengthen multiple language information dissemination capacities responding to the web society.

(1) Promotion of library/materials data base
  1. Based on the discussions in the library sub-committee last year, we will make efforts towards qualitative improvement of library/materials management personnel, renew the library data base system, and make efforts towards efficient operation thereof. The database will be continuously upgraded, with help from outside experts.
  2. To maximize the use of the library, Hurights' original keywords will be allocated to the materials, based on the basic keywords policy, to improve our information search service. We will also work towards linking with the OPAC (Osaka Prefectural Library Information Network) to strengthen information collection and dissemination.
(2) Strengthening information dissemination through publications
  1. The pricing for the newsletter "Kokusai Jinken Hiroba" will be revised (300 to 350 per issue / 2,000 to 2,500 per annum) to aim at becoming an international human rights journal, providing readers with accessible information on timely issues. For that purpose, we will increase pages, enhance the contents and also use larger prints. (bi-monthly : May, July, September, November, January, March)
  2. We will also clarify the position of "Focus" as an organizational publication, and make efforts to link its contents with the Japanese language newsletter. (quarterly: June, September, December, March)
  3. We will continue with the mail magazine, which we started last year as a medium to send information regarding international human rights on a regular basis. (currently sent to 350 addresses)
(3) Enhancing the website, and strengthening multi-language information dissemination capacities using the internet
  1. We will renew the contents of the Japanese website to aim at being a portal site for international human rights. Links with other public relations medium of this organization will be promoted, as well as links with Osaka City and Prefecture and other local governments, international organizations, government organizations, and other organizations. We will make efforts towards systematic and efficient production and update of the website, outsourcing where necessary.
  2. The contents of the English website will be renewed, and strengthen dissemination capacities for local and Japanese human rights information, as well as human rights data base for the Asia Pacific. Linkages with human rights organs and NGO's abroad will also be strengthened.
  3. The Korean and Chinese websites, set up last year will be enhanced, and we will attempt further progress in multi-language versions of the website, to enhance our information dissemination and networking in the Asia Pacific
(4) Strengthening information collection and dissemination through links with human rights NGO's/NPO's, mass media
  1. We will strengthen links with human rights NGO's/NPO's, promote their human rights support activities, information exchange and use of our organization. We will support human rights information dissemination, consultation activities, or research activities on human capacity building regarding human rights, using the electronic network by organizations, such as New Media, working against discrimination on the web.
  2. We will discuss methods for effective collection and dissemination of information through linkages with local mass media.
  3. We will participate in international conferences, seminars, etc sponsored by UN and other organizations, to collect information and enhance networking in the Asia-Pacific.
2. Promotion of research for the realization of regional protection of human rights
   Hurights will actively pursue diffusion of international human rights standards, including human rights treaties, promotion of the second half of the UN Decade for human rights education, promotion of the establishment of national human rights institutions based on the Paris Principles, collecting information and accumulating data base of human rights issues and situations in various countries, cooperating with the Osaka meeting of the UNESCO anti-racism follow-up.

(1) Continuation and development of international cooperation activities in Asia regarding UN Decade for Human Rights Education
  1. We will recap the past activities in the sub-regions (North-east Asia, South-east Asia, South Asia) on "international cooperation activities regarding human rights education in schools," which were promoted as part of our efforts for the realization of regional human rights protection in the Asia Pacific, and clarify the issues in the areas of research training, and material development. For the fiscal 2003, we will implement an Asian human rights education program based on the results of the publication of "Human Rights Education in Asian Schools Vol.I-VI" and the "Lesson Plan."
  2. We will actively participate in as well as cooperate with human rights education programs sponsored by the OHCHR and UNESCO, We will also accumulate and analyze the activities in various countries in the Asia Pacific including Japan for the conclusion of the UN Decade for Human Rights Education.
  3. We will proceed with the discussions regarding the role and research, towards realization of the Asia-Pacific human rights research organization network, which we began preparations last year with the cooperation of Ateneo Human Rights Centre in the Phillippines.
  4. Based on the results of the "Japan Korea human rights education exchange seminar for the realization of gender equal society," which was conducted with the financial support of the Japan Foundation, we will continue to promote information collection and research regarding human rights issues and education in North-east Asia, mainly Japan, ROK, DPRK, China, and Taiwan, including holding the second seminar on gender equal education in ROK.
(2) Promotion of information collection and databasing information regarding human rights institutions and situations in Asia Pacific countries
  1. Establishments and improvements of national human rights institutions promoting activities in human rights remedies, education and policy proposals, and based on the Paris Principles are increasing in the Asia Pacific. One was established in Thailand in 2001, and in Korea in 2002. There are 12 members currently in the Asia Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions.
       Hurights will continue to send its staff to the annual meetings and NGO workshops, to enhance networking with these institutions, as well as human rights NGO's.
  2. We will enhance our activities in the international human rights field work, which we started in 2002, and comprehensively promote study tours and its follow-up research activities. For that purpose, regarding the Philippine study tour held last year, the results will be compiled, and follow-up research will be promoted in the FY2003, to accumulate data on the situation on human rights and human rights education in the Philippines.
       For the international human rights field work activities for FY2003, we will select Cambodia and will conduct a study tour to the country this year, to collect information regarding the situation on human rights and human rights education.
(3) Leading the UNESCO anti-racism meeting in Osaka to success, and promotion of UN Decade for Literacy, 2nd Asia Pacific Decade for Disabled Persons, UN Decade for education for Sustainable Development
  1. UN held the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and related Intolerance in Durban in August 2001. The Conference adopted a declaration and program for action and appealed to strengthen efforts against racism and racial discrimination. Hurights has sent staff members, issued brochures, panels to raise awareness of the declaration and program for action after the conference. UNESCO will hold an international meeting in Osaka this June as part of its efforts to realize the declaration and program for action, and to elaborate its anti-racism strategy. Hurights will actively cooperate, including linking with IMADR towards success of this meeting.
  2. This will be the first year of the UN Decade for Literacy (2003-2012), as well as the Year of Freshwater and ASEAN-Japan Exchange Year. The World Water Forum (March) as well as the UN Disarmament Conference (August) will be held in Osaka. The UNGA adopted a resolution on the UN Decade for Education for Sustainable Development (2005-2014) at the end of last year, and opportunities for discussions on the integrated issue of development, environment, and human rights, is on the increase.
       Hurights will place importance on the relation of international human rights and global issues such as development, environment and discrimination, and promote activities in cooperation with related organizations.
  3. We will introduce the "International Human Rights Education Award 2003," for which we started preparations last year, to promote the UN Decade for Human Rights Education, and will seek and receive applications from domestic and international applicants.
3. Strengthening awareness raising in Japan on international human rights standards including the UN Decade for human rights education
   Hurights will continue to hold "wai-wai seminars" and the Citizen's Forum, to raise the domestic awareness of international human rights standards for the age of internationalization. We will also continue to co-sponsor seminars with other organizations including the "international human rights study meeting " co-sponsored with the Buraku Liberation Human Rights Research Institute, and the "policy elaboration forum for a multi-cultural community" co-sponsored with the Multi-Cultural Center. Hurights will also strengthen links with Peace Osaka and Liberty Osaka, and promote cooperative activities among the 3 organizations related to peace and human rights.
   We will also work on a human rights organization/NGO/NPO directory, to promote networking among human rights organizations, NGO's and NPO's in Japan.

(1) Continuation of "wai-wai seminars" and the Citizens' Forum
  1. In order to raise human rights awareness for the age of internationalization, which is one of our goals, we will develop our activities to disseminate information regarding international human rights standards. For that purpose, we will continue holding "wai-wai seminars," in the FY2003, which we started last year to contribute to the local community as an accessible human rights information center. These seminars take up timely topics and aims at developing dialogue and mutual exchange among the participants. (6-10 times per year)
  2. Last year, the Citizens' Forum was held on 18th December, titled "the keyword linking the individual and the world," in cooperation with Osaka City and Prefecture. It was held with approx. 500 participants, and it offered an opportunity for the people of the Osaka prefecture and city to learn and think about the issues regarding international human rights. We will continue to hold a Forum in FY2003 in November-December.
(2) Seminars/meetings co-sponsored with other organizations
  1. We will continue to conduct the international human rights study meetings co-sponsored by Buraku Liberation and Human Rights Research Institute, to study and network on various human rights issues by calling on experts and members in the Kansai region. (6-10 times per year)
  2. Last year we had 2 multi-cultural education seminar in cooperation with Osaka Prefectural Study Group for Human Rights Education in Schools (August, March). We also conducted the policy elaboration forum for multi-cultural community (October) co-sponsored by Multi-Cultural Center and Toyonaka Center for International Exchange.
    We will continue to strengthen links and networking, through co-sponsored seminars with other organizations on various topics such as discrimination, environment and development related to human rights.
  3. We will strengthen our relations with Peace Osaka and Liberty Osaka, which are public organizations established with the support of Osaka Prefecture, Osaka City and other organizations, and promote cooperative activities related to peace and human rights, such as symposiums and human rights bus tours.
  4. We will collect information on human rights organizations, NGO's and NPO's in Japan, and work on a directory regarding those, to enhance cooperation, and promote networking among such organizations in Japan.
4. Strengthening consultation service, publication and public relations activities as well as increase membership
   Hurights is in its 9th year since its establishment in July 1994, and prides itself as being a central institution on human rights information in Japan. Unfortunately, we are not well recognized in Osaka or in Japan.
   To increase recognition and to provide feedback on the results, to enhance its capacities as an information center for the awareness raising of international human rights standards, we will continue to strengthen consultation and other services activities, as well as publication and public relations activities.

(1) Strengthening consultation services
  1. We will analyze our past consultation activities (study on needs) , and promote provision of consultation services responding to the needs of users. We will also compile a FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions).
  2. We will proceed with the categorizations of literature, materials, materials from UN organs, government organs and NGO's to provide information and consultation services on international human rights in general, as well as for specific issues, including children, women, disabled persons, refugees.
       We will also provide support on information for other organizations using the public electronic network to provide human rights information.
  3. In addition to the free of charge consultation service, we will continue promotion of consultation services at a charge regarding designing training programs, planning for seminars, provision of lecturers, study tour planning, etc.
(2) Strengthening publication activities
  1. Last year, we revised the first in the video series, "Do you know of international human rights?" For FY2003, we will continue revision and renewals of existing videos in the international human rights series.
  2. Enhance publications including "Booklets" to secure revenue.
    We will also use the opportunities for lectures by the writers of the publications, to distribute materials.
  3. We will improve the system of leasing exhibition panels (including posters) in response to user needs, to promote increase use.
  4. Hurights has published 4 awareness raising booklets under commission of Osaka Prefecture. The booklets, explaining human rights issues in familiar situations, have been popular. We will continue editing/publishing these booklets under commission of Osaka Prefecture in FY2003.
  5. We will issue and distribute leaflets/flyers introducing our publications and videos.

    Publications due in FY 2003
    Newsletter "Kokusai Jinken Hiroba" (bi-monthly) / "Focus" (quarterly)
    Human Rights Booklet series (Vol. 11-12)
    Asia-Pacific Human Rights Review 2004
    others
(3) Strengthening efforts to increase membership and secure financial support
  1. We will revise the membership brochure (Japanese/English), and enhance public relations activities with cooperation of various organizations/ people, to increase membership (individual / organizational/ support).
  2. We will make efforts to network with support foundations in implementing our activities, to focus on securing revenues from support organizations.

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