Human Rights Education: Is This The Answer To Improve Human Rights Situations in Japan?

Education is important because it is a tool to eliminate illiteracy, poverty, racism and crime. Education is important because it offers an impetus to fight stereotypes, prejudice and discrimination. Education for all is a very important principle and value because it promotes social justice and equality of opportunity. In particular, knowledge of human rights is essential as a tool for the observance and promotion of human rights. Endorsement of human rights education has been declared in various global and regional legal instruments ever since 1945, when the Charter of the United Nations called for cooperation “in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.” Today Japan is the second largest economy in the world. Japanese enjoy one of the highest standards of living in the world. However, in spite of its phenomenal economic “success” and the 1947 “peace” Constitution’s emphasis on human rights and democracy, Japan is a human rights deficit country. This paper, first, assesses the trend of human rights education in the world since World War II. Second, it analyzes the current human rights situations in Japan, especially focusing on minorities that include Koreans, foreign workers, Burakumin, and Ainu. Third, the paper makes historical examination of Dowa (integration) education as a case study of human rights education in Japan. The objective of this paper is to stresses the necessity of implementing more rigorous human rights education in Japan so as to improve the lives of women and minorities in the country. ..PAT.-Unpublished Manuscript [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]