A/HRC/8/44 Page 16 detainees. Japan also noted operations of the substitute detention system continue to be improved. On the issue of the video-recording of interrogations, the Delegation stated that statements by the suspect is important in order to elucidate the truth in investigations and that the mandating to record all interrogation sometimes can hamper relations between the investigator and the criminal, and may serve to stop the suspect from telling the truth. Japan noted that a careful consideration is needed of the introduction of such monitoring and video-taping. Japan also stated that the police has recently established several systems including the interrogation inspection. With regard to domestic violence, the Government referred to the Act on the Prevention of Spousal Violence and the Protection of Victims, and stated that Japan will endeavour to facilitate protection by granting victims a legal status of residence in accordance with the Immigration Control Act or by granting a change in the present status of residence. The Government based the country’s refugee recognition procedure on the 1951 Convention on the Status of Refugees and followed the principle of nonrefoulement. Japan has the intention to continue to strive for protection positively. A system of counsellors has been introduced, composed of experts of academia, NGOs and so on, to ensure impartiality and objectivity in the recognition of refugees. The Government informed that corporal punishment by teachers and principals is prohibited in the School Education Law and also that it promotes non-violent measures based on trust between the teachers and students. In the case that corporal punishment is actually carried out by school teachers, they are reprimanded through the appropriate procedures. In conclusion, the Government appreciated the constructive and valuable assessments, questions and comments by delegations, and noted it had been a valuable opportunity to review the human rights situation in Japan from an international point of view. II. CONCLUSIONS AND/OR RECOMMENDATIONS 60. In the course of the discussion, the following recommendations were made to Japan: 1. Consider ratifying/Ratify the First Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (Albania), the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture (United Kingdom, Albania, Mexico, Brazil) the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (Portugal, Albania, Mexico, Brazil), the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families (Peru), the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (Mexico), the International Convention on the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance (Albania), the Hague Convention on Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction, 1980 (Canada, Netherlands); as well as to recognize the competence of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination to receive and consider individual complaints (Mexico, Brazil); Sign the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (Portugal); 2. Implement the calls by, inter alia, the Human Rights Committee and the Committee on the Rights of the Child to establish a human rights institution in accordance with the Paris Principles as soon as possible (Algeria); Finalize the legislation needed to establish a national human rights institution in accordance with the Paris Principles (Canada); Establish the national human rights institution (Mexico); Continue efforts to establish a national institution in accordance with the Paris Principles (Qatar); 3. Set up an independent mechanism for investigating complaints of violations of human rights (Islamic Republic of Iran);

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