The 59th Session of the Human Rights Council, Item 3: Interactive Dialogue with Working Group on Transnational Corporations and Other Business Enterprises, Statement by Mr. SHIMIZU Yohei (19 June 2025)

　Thank you, Mr. President.

   I would like to express our sincere gratitude to the Working Group for its continued efforts to promote Business and Human Rights. We particularly welcome the report on artificial intelligence submitted to this session by the Working Group.

  Japan is committed to taking a leadership role in the responsible development and use of AI. As the G7 chair in 2023, we initiated the “Hiroshima AI Process,” culminating in the Comprehensive Policy Framework aligned with the UN Guiding Principles. This demonstrates our commitment to shaping international norms for generative AI. Domestically, we have developed AI Guidelines for Business, prioritizing a “Human-Centric” approach as one of the Common Guiding Principles to prevent human rights violations in the development, provision, and use of AI systems and services. Furthermore, from 2022 to 2025, we have collaborated with UNESCO on several projects that support Africa and Small Island Developing States to benefit from AI technologies while addressing ethical risks.

   We are currently revising our National Action Plan and remain steadfast in our commitment to promoting respect for human rights based on the UNGPs. We will continue to work collaboratively with businesses, civil society, and other stakeholders to achieve this goal.

   I thank you, Mr. President.