The 60th Session of the Human Rights Council, Item 3: Interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery, Statement by Mr. KAZAMA Naoki (12 September 2025)
2025/9/15
The 60th Session of the Human Rights Council
Item 3: ID with the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery
Statement by Mr. KAZAMA Naoki, Second Secretary
The Permanent Mission of Japan in Geneva
12 September 2025
Item 3: ID with the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery
Statement by Mr. KAZAMA Naoki, Second Secretary
The Permanent Mission of Japan in Geneva
12 September 2025
Thank you, Madam Vice-President.
We express our sincere gratitude to the Special Rapporteur for his tireless efforts and valuable contributions.
Japan views child labor as a grave violation of children’s rights, including their right to education. It deprives children of their childhood and hinders their full and healthy development.
The report rightly underlines the critical responsibilities of both States and businesses in eradicating child labor, and provides useful examples from different regions. In this regard, Japan has consistently contributed to global efforts to end child labor through strategic partnerships with international organizations such as the ILO and through its ODA initiatives. For instance, Japan’s International Cooperation Agency, JICA, serves as the secretariat of “the Sustainable Cocoa Platform in Developing Countries,” facilitating collaboration among public entities, corporations, and civil society. Japan also actively supports the Child Labour Free Zone initiatives in Ghana and Nepal in collaboration with ILO, UNICEF and other related organizations.
No matter where in the world a child is born, and regardless of the circumstances faced by their parents or caregivers, it is never permissible to deprive a child of their boundless potential.
Japan remains firmly committed to working closely with international organizations to address child labor and other contemporary forms of slavery.
I thank you.
We express our sincere gratitude to the Special Rapporteur for his tireless efforts and valuable contributions.
Japan views child labor as a grave violation of children’s rights, including their right to education. It deprives children of their childhood and hinders their full and healthy development.
The report rightly underlines the critical responsibilities of both States and businesses in eradicating child labor, and provides useful examples from different regions. In this regard, Japan has consistently contributed to global efforts to end child labor through strategic partnerships with international organizations such as the ILO and through its ODA initiatives. For instance, Japan’s International Cooperation Agency, JICA, serves as the secretariat of “the Sustainable Cocoa Platform in Developing Countries,” facilitating collaboration among public entities, corporations, and civil society. Japan also actively supports the Child Labour Free Zone initiatives in Ghana and Nepal in collaboration with ILO, UNICEF and other related organizations.
No matter where in the world a child is born, and regardless of the circumstances faced by their parents or caregivers, it is never permissible to deprive a child of their boundless potential.
Japan remains firmly committed to working closely with international organizations to address child labor and other contemporary forms of slavery.
I thank you.