School ‘re-education’ of religious children raises human rights concerns – French legal expert Patricia Duval warns of the dehumanizing treatment of children of Family Federation believers
Tokyo, 1st November 2025 – Published as an article in the Japanese newspaper Sekai Nippo. Republished with permission. Translated from Japanese. Original article.
Concerns Over “Re-Education” Through Human Rights Classes
Interview with International Human Rights Lawyer Patricia Duval
UN Special Rapporteurs Warn – Has the Japanese Government Ignored Them?
by Takafumi Honda (本田 隆文)
prepared by Knut Holdhus
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has issued a press release publishing the views of UN Special Rapporteurs who expressed concern about the dissolution order against the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (formerly the Unification Church) and about religious education in Japanese public schools.
We spoke with French international human rights lawyer Patricia Duval, who prepared supplementary explanatory materials for the 23rd October release, about the decision by the Tokyo District Court, the government’s handling of second-generation Family Federation believers, and other issues.
Interview by Takafumi Honda (本田 隆文)
– On 1st October, a UN press release disclosed the opinions of Special Rapporteurs concerning the Tokyo District Court’s March decision to order the dissolution of the former Unification Church.
There is a body called the UN Human Rights Council, composed of 47 member states, and the Special Rapporteurs act as its eyes and ears.
Four Special Rapporteurs – on freedom of religion or belief, the right to education, minority issues, and freedom of peaceful assembly and association – reported on the situation in Japan and expressed concern over the state of religion and education.
In April 2024, these Rapporteurs formally questioned the Japanese government about its guidelines concerning child abuse related to freedom of religion.
The guidelines specifically addressed child abuse said to arise from religion, which in itself poses a serious issue. In June, the Japanese government responded that there was no problem and that human rights were being properly protected.
The press release was a follow-up, representing an official warning and preventive statement from the four Rapporteurs. In essence, it was issued to say, “Japan must not continue doing what it is doing now,” and it carries serious significance.
– They are particularly concerned about what’s happening in schools.
In January 2024, a ministerial meeting decided to expand “support” for second-generation members of the former Unification Church, including by assigning school counselors. There are already “human rights classes” for children, and the issue of the Unification Church [See editor’s note below] is now to be addressed in those classes.
These counselors are trained by former believers hostile to the Church. Teachers are instructed to identify which students are “second-generation” and to bring them to these counselors. There, the children are “re-educated” to adopt critical views toward the Church.
We compiled all related materials into a report and submitted it to the UN Special Rapporteurs.
They also expressed concern over the dissolution order itself. The Tokyo District Court has approved the government’s petition to dissolve the organization, but the Rapporteurs’ statement clearly warns that the High Court must not repeat this decision. It thus holds great significance at this timing.
The issue is not only that dissolving a religious organization based on the vague notion of “public welfare” violates international law, but also that past court rulings against the Family Federation on grounds of “social unacceptability” themselves constitute violations of international law.
We have been urging the Japanese government to respond, but unless we continue to publicize the UN’s official statement, it will simply be ignored.
– Young Family Federation believers have been giving speeches and holding rallies to protest what they call the unjust dissolution order.
The media completely ignores the voices of these young believers. I think it is wonderful that they are going out and speaking up. Those voices must be heard.
Religious Persecution for Political Reasons
– It has been more than three years since the trial began over the assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (安倍晋三).
The defendant, Tetsuya Yamagami (山上徹也), is said to have held resentment toward the Church over donations, but in fact, a settlement was reached – he signed it himself – and half of the donations were returned.
Given that, it makes no sense that, twenty years later, he would murder out of resentment toward the Church, and even stranger that his target was Abe, who had no direct connection to it.
I can only believe that someone put him up to it. I cannot specify who, but likely those opposing the Unification Church [See editor’s note below]. His weak mental state may have been influenced and exploited.
Some lawyers oppose the Church for political reasons. Along with Protestant pastors who abduct and confine believers to force them to convert, these lawyers have long engaged in anti-Unification Church activities.
– In South Korea, religious organizations, including the Family Federation are currently being raided, and their leaders are being detained and indicted.
That is a completely different issue from Japan’s case or from any “public welfare” matter. It is purely a political issue.
I believe these actions are retaliation by the current President Lee Jae-myung (이재명), who is seen as pro-China, against conservative religious groups that supported former President Yoon Suk-yeol (윤석열).
Countries like China, which deny religion, are closely watched by the UN. The Unification Church [See editor’s note below] originally opposed communism, and now the world is becoming increasingly concerned about the political persecution of religions – particularly in Asia.
Featured image above: Patricia Duval responding to an interview on the afternoon of 29th October 2025, Toshima Ward, Tokyo. Photo: Naoko Tsujimoto (辻本奈緒子)
[Editor’s note: Although Patricia Duval uses the name “Unification Church” and also the word “church”, please be aware that the Unification Church in Japan in 2015 changed its name to Family Federation for World peace and Unification.]