Key Facts
• July 8: Human rights groups held an emergency press conference in parliament.
• 8 organizations issued a joint statement opposing discriminatory election slogans.
• 266 civic groups supported the statement, with more expected to join.
• Slogans like ‘Zero Illegal Foreigners’ and ‘Prioritize Japanese’ sparked societal concerns.
• Groups refuted claims of ‘foreigners receiving special treatment’ as baseless.
• Statement highlighted risks of justifying exclusion under ‘national interest’ or ‘security.’
• Concerns raised over societal division and growing prejudice.
• Organizations pledged to continue anti-discrimination efforts and expand collaboration.
Summary
Human rights groups in Japan have issued a joint statement condemning discriminatory election slogans such as ‘Zero Illegal Foreigners’ and ‘Prioritize Japanese,’ which have emerged ahead of the Upper House elections. On July 8, eight organizations held a press conference in parliament, emphasizing that claims of ‘foreigners receiving special treatment’ lack factual basis. The statement, supported by 266 civic groups, warns against the societal harm caused by justifying exclusion under the guise of ‘national interest’ or ‘security.’ The groups called on politicians to cease xenophobic rhetoric and pledged to continue their efforts to combat discrimination and promote inclusivity.
