Japan Press Weekly

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2008 June 4 - 10 [CIVIL RIGHTS]

Diet adopts resolution calling for Ainu to be recognized as indigenous people

Both chambers of the Japanese Diet adopted unanimous resolutions calling for Ainu to be recognized as indigenous people of Japan.

Following the adoption of the U.N. Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in September last year with Japan joining among the many countries voting in favor, the resolution states, “The U.N. declaration reflects Ainu people’s long-standing wish. The U.N. Human Rights Council that monitors violations of international human rights treaties has called upon Japan to take concrete measures to realize the aims of the declaration.”

It calls on the government to recognize Ainu as indigenous peoples who live in the northern part of the Japanese archipelago, primarily in Hokkaido, with unique linguistic, religious and cultural traditions, and to set up an advisory panel to develop measures related to Ainu people in accordance with the U.N. declaration.

Japanese Communist Party House of Councilors member Kami Tomoko on November 2007 demanded that the government recognize Ainu as indigenous people in accordance with the U.N. Declaration and establish a panel to discuss their living conditions in general.

The Hokkaido Utari Association, chaired by Kato Tadashi, on May 22 requested the government to recognize that Ainu are indigenous people.
- Akahata, June 7, 2008