Ministry of Justice’s human rights bodies offers free counseling services to foreigners

With the aim of giving proper respect to the human rights of foreigners, the The Ministry of Justice’s Human Rights Bodies has set up human rights counseling services accessible by phone (Foreign-language Human Rights Hotline), online (Human rights counseling services in foreign languages on the Internet), and in person (Human rights counseling centers for foreigners), through 50 Legal Affairs Bureaus and District Legal Affairs Bureaus throughout Japan, to support foreigners who are not fluent Japanese speakers.

In your daily life, do you ever feel that you have a human rights problem because you were not allowed to rent an apartment, a hairdresser refused to cut your hair or your child is bullied at school, due to the fact that you are foreigner?

The Ministry of Justice’s Human Rights Bodies provide human rights consultation and, when necessary, conduct fact-finding investigations and take appropriate measures in order to provide relief and prevention of damage. Don’t worry alone. Consult with them first. Get in touch a staff member will be on hand to discuss your problem, they will find the best solution to your problem.

*As the bureau is a governmental body, all advice is neutral and impartial.
*Advice is offered free of charge, and no paperwork is required.
* Referrals, legal advice, mediations*¹ between the relevant parties and interventions*² demanding an improvement in behavior from human rights offenders are offered, as considered appropriate.
*¹ *² these measures will only be taken with the understanding and agreement of the relevant parties, and cannot be forced if either party is unwilling.

Their services are available in English, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Portuguese, Spanish, Nepali, Thai, Filipino and Indonesian.
(Internet counselling services are available only in English and Chinese)