Human Rights Commissioner

The Human Rights Commissioners were established in each city, town, and village (including special wards) under the Human Rights Commissioners Act (Act No. 139, 1949) with the mission of monitoring the violation of basic human rights of the people, taking measures to remedy any violations, and working to promote the spread and promotion of human rights. Human rights commissioners are established in each city, town, and village (including special wards) under the Human Rights Commissioners Act (Act No. 139, 1949) to prevent and remedy human rights violations by state power under the Habeas Corpus Act and the Code of Criminal Procedure. However, in cases where de facto relief is sought without legal procedures, especially in cases of human rights violations between private individuals, the Human Rights Bureau is established in the Ministry of Justice as a relief organization, and Human Rights Commissioners are placed under its control to deal with "every human rights problem that may occur under the sun." For example, in cases where a boss or employer violates the human rights of citizens or employees, or in cases of village rape, the Human Rights Commissioners are expected to take on the role of protecting human rights in response to requests for relief from the victims. The Minister of Justice selects and commissions a Human Rights Commissioner for each city, town, and village from among those recommended by the mayors, after hearing the opinions of the governor and the bar association. The term of office is three years, and the task force investigates and gathers information on cases of human rights violations, reports to the Minister of Justice, and takes measures such as issuing recommendations to relevant institutions. Councils are organized for each district, and federations are set up for each prefecture to coordinate their duties. The prefectural federations are also to organize the National Federation of Human Rights Commissioners.

[Masaaki Ikeda]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

国民の基本的人権が侵犯されることのないよう監視し、もし侵犯された場合その救済のための処置をとり、あわせて人権思想の普及高揚に努めることを使命として、人権擁護委員法（昭和24年法律139号）に基づいて設けられ、各市町村（特別区を含む）に置かれている。国家権力による人権侵犯については、人身保護法や刑事訴訟法がその防止や救済を図っているが、法的手続によらない事実上の救済を求める場合とか、とくに私人間における人権侵犯については、その救済機関として法務省に人権擁護局を、その管理下に人権擁護委員を置いて、「太陽の下でおこりうるあらゆる人権問題」に対処しようとしている。たとえば、いわゆるボスや雇用主が市民や被雇用者の人権を侵犯した場合とか、村ハチブが行われた場合などに、被侵犯者救済の求めに応じて、人権擁護の任にあたることが期待されている。法務大臣が、市町村長の推薦した者のなかから、知事・弁護士会などの意見を聞いて、市町村ごとに人選し委嘱する。任期は3年で、人権侵犯事件について、調査と情報の収集をし、法務大臣に報告し、関係機関への勧告などの処置を講ずる。区域ごとに協議会を組織し、都道府県ごとに連合会を設けて、職務の連絡調整を図る。また、都道府県の連合会は全国人権擁護委員連合会を組織することになっている。

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