News and Events

Temple Law School and FWLA present a CLE Event: Better Understanding the Mental Health Act of Japan and the Rights of Persons with Mental Disabilities in Japan

Date:: Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Speakers:: Professor Etsuro Totsuka, Professor of International Human Rights Law at Ryukoku University's School of Law
Time:: 7:00 p.m. - Light Dinner
8:00 p.m. - Presentation commences
Venue:: Temple University School of Law, Tokyo Campus - Mita Hall, 5th Floor (Map)
RSVP:: Please RSVP to facilitate catering arrangements. Please RSVP to fwla.events@gmail.com by 12:00 Noon on February 26th.
Fee:: FWLA Members ¥3,000
Full-Time Student Members ¥1,500
Non-Members and Guests ¥5,000
Student Non-Members and Guests ¥2,000 (please present student ID).

About the Event

Dr. Totsuka will provide us with an overview of the Mental Health Act of Japan and will address the current challenges that persons with mental disabilities and their families face in Japan given the current provisions of this Act and how it impacts how mental health practitioners care for their patients and how public authorities handle matters involving such persons.

Dr. Totsuka has been actively advocating on behalf of persons with mental disabilities in Japan for nearly 30 years and successfully effected the 1997 amendment to the Mental Health Act.

Dr. Totsuka has dedicated his legal career to defending human rights and has won several awards recognizing his commitment to justice in this area. He frequently appears before United Nations bodies in defense of victims of human rights abuses, including the Comfort Women, and represents United Nations NGOs, such as the International Fellowship of Reconciliation (IFOR) and the Japan Fellowship of Reconciliation (JFOR). He currently serves as the main Geneva representative for the JFOR developing overseas educational programs at the United Nations for students of Ryukoku University. He also serves as the General Secretary of the Research Institute of International Human Rights Law Policies. Dr. Totsuka graduated from Rikkyo University with a B.Sc. in 1964 and a B.A. in 1970. In 1973, he graduated from the National Institute for Legal Training and Research and was licensed as an attorney. He received an LL.M., LSE from the University of London in 1990 and a Doctorate of International Relations Studies from Ritsumeikan University in 2007. He also was a visiting academic at London University's Institute of Psychiatry (1988 - 1996) and received an honorary fellowship from the Royal College of Psychiatrists in 2006.