At their 2015 Summit in Scloss Elmau, Germany, the leaders of the G7 committed themselves to “better application of internationally recognised labour, social and environmental standards, principles and commitments in global supply chains”. Civil society is now calling for the government of Japan, which will host the G7 Summit in Ise-shima in May 2016, to ensure that this commitment is renewed in 2016, and that there be an in-depth examination of steps G7 states have taken in ensuring that human rights are respected throughout the international supply chain.   

Civil society is also calling on the Japanese government to commence the process of preparing a National Action Plan, to include consultations with a broad range of stakeholders. Amongst G7 countries, only Japan and Canada have not adopted, or even started the process of creating, a National Action Plan on Human Rights. These issues are particularly salient as Japan prepares to host the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.