USG PRIORITIES FOR MARCH UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL

C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 000380 SIPDIS DEPT FOR IO/HR - GAYATRI PATEL AND EAP/J E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/25/2020 TAGS: PREL PHUM UN JA SUBJECT: USG PRIORITIES FOR MARCH UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL SESSION REF: STATE 16231 Classified By: Political Deputy Marc Knapper per reasons 1.4(b) and (d) . ¶1. (C) Drawing on points in reftel, Embassy Poloff met February 25 with MOFA Human Rights and Humanitarian Division's Tomoko Onishi to review U.S. goals for the March session of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC). Prefacing her comments with the caveat that Japan's positions for the HRC session remained a work in progress, Onishi said that the GOJ did plan to support mandate renewals for the Burma and DPRK Special Rapporteurs but was otherwise noncommittal. ¶2. (C) Poloff sought GOJ views on a possible HRC resolution on Iran. Onishi appeared skeptical, replying that any action on Iran would have to be considered carefully, in particular whether or not such a measure would be effective. Mentioning Japan's bilateral human rights dialogue with Iran, she said Japan's position on a possible resolution would need to take into consideration its impact on existing mechanisms such as that dialogue. Japan may also seek neutral ground on the religious defamation issue. Onishi said that while the GOJ understands that the U.S. sees the language of the OIC and Africa Group draft resolutions as problematic, Japan "does have some sympathy with OIC thinking." Nonetheless, she said Japan's position on the issue remains undecided. ¶3. (C) Comment: With the HRC session beginning March 1, Japan seems likely to lean on the recommendations of its HRC delegation in Geneva. Post suggests that strong engagement in Geneva will be most likely to influence the GOJ's voting positions. ROOS