CRPD/C/JPN/CO/1

Children with disabilities (art. 7)
17.

The Committee observes with concern the:

(a)
Early identification and rehabilitation system, as regulated by the Maternal and
Child Health Act, directing children with disabilities, through their medical examination to
their social segregation, hindering them from community and inclusive life prospects;
(b)
Lack of clear recognition of the right of children with disabilities to be heard,
and to express their views freely on all matters affecting them in all relevant laws, including
the Child Welfare Act;
(c)
Lack of full prohibition of corporal punishment of children, including children
with disabilities, in home, alternative care and day care settings, as well as insufficient
measures to prevent and protect children with disabilities against abuse and violence.
18.
With reference to the Joint Statement of the CRC and CRPD Committees on the
rights of children with disabilities (2022), the Committee recommends that the State
party:
(a)
Review the existing legislation with the aim to recognize the right to full
social inclusion of all children with disabilities and take all necessary measures,
including universal design and reasonable accommodations, inter alia, alternative and
augmentative methods of information and communication, to ensure their full
enjoyment of the general childcare system from their earliest age on an equal basis with
other children;
(b)
Recognize the right of children with disabilities to be heard, and to express
their views freely on all matters affecting them on an equal basis with other children,
including in judicial and administrative proceedings, and to be provided with disability
and age-appropriate assistance and communication in accessible formats to realize that
right;
(c)
Fully and explicitly prohibit the corporal punishment of children,
including of those with disabilities, in all settings, and strengthen measures of
prevention of and protection against abuse and violence of children with disabilities.
Awareness-raising (art. 8)
19.

The Committee is concerned about:

(a)
Insufficient efforts and budgetary allocation to raise awareness about the
dignity and rights of persons with disabilities in society and in the media;
(b)
Discriminatory eugenic attitudes, negative stereotypes and prejudices towards
persons with disabilities, persons with intellectual disabilities or persons with psychosocial
disabilities;
(c)
Insufficient participation of persons with disabilities in the preparation of
awareness-raising initiatives, such as the “Barrier-Free Mindset” textbook, and insufficient
evaluation of these measures.
20.

The Committee recommends that the State Party:

(a)
Adopt a national strategy to eliminate negative stereotypes, prejudices
and harmful practices against persons with disabilities, including close participation of
persons with disabilities in its formulation and implementation, and periodic
evaluation;
(b)
Strengthen measures to develop and adequately fund awareness-raising
programmes on the rights of persons with disabilities for the media, the general public
and families of persons with disabilities.

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