Rights groups urge Japan new government to focus foreign policy on human rights

Japan’s new government should prioritize human rights in its foreign policy, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said Monday, calling on Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to adopt stronger legal, diplomatic, and institutional measures to address abuses in Asia and globally.

Japan is the only G7 country without sanctions targeting foreign officials implicated in serious human rights violations. Rights groups argue that such a policy, similar to the Magnitsky-style frameworks used in the US, the UK, and Canada, would allow Tokyo to respond more effectively to abuses in Asia and elsewhere. Experts also point to the need for binding due diligence rules on Japanese companies to prevent forced labor, harassment, and environmental harm across global supply chains, along with import restrictions on goods