2008.05.04 up
The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan announced, as of 4 April 2008, a third report on the "Approaches to Teaching Human Rights Education" to prefectural education boards and other relevant entities nationwide.
"The Basic Plan for the Law on the Promotion of Human Rights Education and Human Rights Awareness-Raising" was put forth in 2002 after the establishment of "The Law on the Promotion of Human Rights Education and Human Rights Awareness-Raising" (enacted in 2000). The "Approaches to Teaching Human Rights Education" report was discussed and compiled by the Promotion Headquarters for the Decade (HQ) (chaired by then Professor Hiroshi Fukuda at Tsukuba University) formed by the Ministry of Education based on the Basic Plan. The HQ has surveyed and studied the teaching contents and methods for promoting human rights education at schools since its launch in 2003. The Ministry of Education released the first report in June 2004 and the second draft report in October 2005, then gathered public comments, and made amendments for the compilation of a third draft report in January 2006. In this third report, practical cases were included.
This third report is the first systematic document on human rights education compiled by the Ministry of Education. It consists of two parts: teaching methods and practices. The second part introduces 42 practical cases with in-depth information. Some people appreciated that the report reflected the experience of anti-discrimination education (Dowa education), but others criticized the report due to the fundamental principles of human rights not being well expressed and other reasons.
The third report says "we hope this report will be widely used in schools and education boards nationwide" (introduction) ..."and sincerely hope that this will give momentum to realize a society respecting human rights" (conclusion). (16 May 2008)
Sources:
·Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Third report on the "Approaches to Teaching Human Rights Education" (Japanese)
http://www.mext.go.jp/b_menu/shingi/chousa/shotou/024/report/08041404.htm
·Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology "Promotion Headquarters for the Decade"(Japanese)
http://211.120.54.153/b_menu/shingi/chousa/shotou/024/index.htm#gaiyou