October, 1998

Distinguished Member
Human Rights Committee
United Nations

Dear Madam/Sir:

The Japan Civil Liberties Union (JCLU) respectfully draws your attention to our 1998 Report Concerning the Present Status of Human Rights in Japan (Third Counter Report) which we are sending to provide necessary information for your deliberations on the Fourth Periodic Report submitted by the Government of Japan under Article 40 Paragraph 1(b) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

The JCLU is a citizens' organization established in 1947 for the protection and promotion of the human rights of all persons without distinction as to belief, religion, or political orientation. The JCLU is affiliated with the International Commission of Jurists and the International League for Human Rights. The JCLU has been acting for the improvement of the human rights situation not only in Japan, but also in Asia.

The JCLU has submitted Counter Reports to the Human Rights Committee in 1988 and 1993, so as to provide additional and/or alternative information not included in the Government Report. They have been received by various Committee members as being accurate and reliable resources, and we trust that this Third Counter Report will help the Committee to make the discussion most productive and fruitful.

In particular, each paper of the present Counter Report has a list of issues and their background, and is placed in order of the Covenant Articles, just like the Government Report. We believe that this concise and practical edition of the Third Counter Report will serve as a convenient reference for you in reviewing the Government Report.

The JCLU sincerely hopes that the Committee will find our Third Counter Report useful in reviewing the Government Report, and thank you for your commitment to improve the human rights situation in Japan.

Yours sincerely,

Takao Yamada, Representative Director
Takehiro Uchida, Representative Director
Kiyoko Kinjo, Representative Director