CRC/C/15/Add.231
page 3
11.
The Committee recommends that the State party undertake a comprehensive
review of its legislation and take all necessary measures to ensure its conformity with the
principles and provisions of the Convention and the rights-based approach enshrined
therein.
Coordination and National Plans of Action
12.
The Committee notes the establishment of the Headquarters for Youth Policy within the
Cabinet Office which is mandated to coordinate policies on children and youth, and, as
previously noted, the elaboration of the National Youth Development Policy. However, the
Committee is concerned that the National Youth Development Policy is not a comprehensive
plan of action and that the participation of children and civil society in the elaboration and
implementation of the Policy has been insufficient.
13.
The Committee recommends that the State party:
(a)
Strengthen, in collaboration with civil society and youth organizations, the
National Youth Development Policy to ensure that it is rights-based, covers all areas of the
Convention and takes into account the commitments made in the outcome document of the
General Assembly special session on children entitled “A World Fit for Children”;
(b)
Continuously review the National Youth Development Policy, together with
civil society and children, in order to ensure that it effectively addresses emerging issues
and problems.
Independent monitoring
14.
The Committee is concerned that there is no independent nationwide system to monitor
the implementation of the Convention. At the same time, the Committee welcomes information
that three prefectures have established local ombudsmen and that the bill on the establishment of
a Human Rights Commission will be resubmitted to the Diet at its next session. In light of the
information provided by the delegation that the draft bill envisages a Human Rights Commission
that is responsible to the Minister of Justice, the Committee is concerned about the independence
of that institution. In addition, it is concerned that the planned Human Rights Commission does
not have an explicit mandate to monitor the implementation of the Convention.
15.
In light of its general comment No. 2 (2002) on the role of independent national
human rights institutions in the protection and promotion of the rights of the child, the
Committee recommends that the State party:
(a)
Review the Human Rights Protection Bill to ensure that the planned Human
Rights Commission will be an independent and effective mechanism in accordance with the
Principles relating to the status of national institutions for the promotion and protection of
human rights (the Paris Principles, General Assembly resolution 48/134, annex);