The Justice Ministry's Council for Human Rights Promotion released a package of proposals Friday that includes establishment of an independent organ to beef up measures to counter abuses.
Based on a report submitted to Justice Minister Mayumi Moriyama, the ministry will push legislation to launch the new organ "as soon as possible," a ministry official said.
Tentatively named the Human Rights Committee, the proposed group will be tasked with providing swift and effective measures to curb social and racial discrimination, sexual harassment, domestic abuse and maltreatment in the workplace, while protecting citizens from human rights infringements by public authorities and the media.