– Tokyo, Ikebukuro: Over 10,000 people from across Japan gathered at the East Ikebukuro Central Park on the afternoon of April 13, 2024, for a protest against the “Pandemic Prevention Treaty” and the proposed amendment to the “International Health Regulations (IHR).”
– With the World Health Organization’s General Assembly in May potentially passing these agreements, concerns about the infringement of rights worldwide are escalating. While the specifics of the agreements have not been fully disclosed, once implemented, WHO’s power in addressing future global public health threats will significantly increase.
– The prospect of mandatory vaccination and other disease prevention measures being imposed by transnational organizations has sparked widespread concerns. A female company employee in her twenties expressed, “After seeing deaths and deteriorating health among those vaccinated, I felt the need to take action.”
– This was her first time participating in a protest. She remarked on the limited coverage of vaccine dissatisfaction on television, leading to her curiosity and desire to witness the truth firsthand at the event, hoping for positive change.
– A housewife in her fifties lamented the erosion of values such as individuality and tradition that should be cherished, expressing concern over the silent erosion happening due to media silence.
– The demonstration started at 2 p.m. and was scheduled to end at 3 p.m., but at 3 p.m., there were still queues waiting to begin at the starting point. It wasn’t until 5 p.m. that the march concluded. Organizers recalled the rapid spread of the event’s influence as diverse individuals from different ideological backgrounds came together.
– How has the Japanese government responded to the expansion of the WHO’s authority?
– Based on the “Ohira Three Principles,” Japan believes that crucial international obligations concerning legal, financial, and political matters must be deliberated in the National Diet. The proposed Pandemic Prevention Treaty and IHR amendment fall under this category.
– However, on February 27, Foreign Minister Uekawa’s remarks at the House of Representatives Budget Committee sparked widespread attention. Minister Uekawa explicitly stated: “For the passage or amendment of regulations, there is no need to seek parliamentary approval individually; acceptance of their binding nature occurs without signing the agreements.”
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