A Justice Ministry panel has proposed that the ministry consider including foreigners on the country's human rights protection commission. Members of the body voluntarily provide consultations and raise awareness.

"Considering the situation in each municipality, measures to select appropriate commission members from among foreigners should be studied," the Council for Human Rights Protection says in a final report, submitted Friday to Justice Minister Mayumi Moriyama.

The proposal is believed to reflect the increasing number of foreign residents in this country.

There are some 14,000 human rights protection commission members across Japan. Including foreigners would require a revision of a 1949 law on the commission.

Moriyama said she will "place the highest value" on the panel's proposal and "strive to establish a new system that meets the demands of the time."

Apart from the issue of including foreigners, the panel recommends increasing the number of young commissioners, as the average age of members is now around 65.

It also points out that, despite being in existence since 1949, the commission "has not secured sufficient personnel with expertise and is not well-known" by the public.

Although the current system, in which heads of municipalities nominate commission members, will be maintained, the council is recommending the establishment of complementary routes for member selection.

The council, set up in 1997, has proposed establishing a new relief body for human rights violations with powerful investigation rights. in 2003.

It says that members of the human rights protection commission will participate in investigations conducted by the new body only if requested to do so and that the commissioners should not be involved in probes that could potentially carry sanctions such as fines.

After the launch of the new body, to be called the human rights committee, all commissioners will be selected by committee members, the panel said.

Hiroshi Shiono, head of the council, expressed hope that the panel's proposal will make the human rights protection commission more active and increase public awareness of the group.