JDF Statement on the Commencement of Mr. Hiroshi Tamon's Activities as a Member of the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

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JDF Statement on the Commencement of Mr. Hiroshi Tamon's Activities as a Member of the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

The Japan Disability Forum (JDF), composed of 13 organizations of and for persons with disabilities in Japan, has supported Mr. Hiroshi Tamon, a distinguished deaf expert, as a candidate for the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. We are pleased to announce that Mr. Tamon was successfully elected in the June 2024 election and will participate for the first time as a Committee member during the 32nd session, scheduled to be held from March 3, 2025. We reaffirm our strong support for Mr. Tamon and extend our sincere gratitude to everyone who contributed to his election.

For Mr. Tamon to fully engage in his role as a Committee member, it is essential that he has access to effective communication with fellow participants — both in person and online — through sign language interpretation. This access must extend beyond the official sessions to include informal meetings with other Committee members and interactions with civil society. We firmly believe that ensuring access to information for all Committee members is the responsibility of the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, in accordance with Articles 9 and 21 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. However, we recognize the ongoing challenges, including budgetary constraints, that may limit the availability of adequate sign language interpretation.

We respectfully urge the United Nations and all State Parties to the Convention, including Japan, to take concrete steps to secure accessible communication for all Committee members. We also seek the understanding and cooperation of fellow Committee members, international civil society organizations, and other relevant stakeholders.

This is not only crucial for Mr. Tamon’s participation but also for fostering an inclusive environment that ensures the meaningful involvement of future Committee members, including those who are deaf and deafblind.

Through Mr. Tamon’s active and full participation, we hope to see further progress in the implementation of the Convention, promoting the rights of persons with disabilities worldwide.

Japan Disability Forum (JDF)
February 27, 2025

Member Organizations:
 Japanese Federation of Organizations of Disabled Persons
 Japan Federation of the Blind
 Japanese Federation of the Deaf
 Japan Council on Disability (JD)
 Japan National Assembly of Disabled Peoples' International
 Inclusion Japan
 Spinal Injuries Japan
 National Federation of Mental Health and Welfare Party in Japan
 All Japan Association of Hard of Hearing and Late-Deafened People
 Japan Deafblind Association
 Japan National Council of Social Welfare
 Japanese Society for Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities
 Japan National Group of Mentally Disabled People