Annual Report 2013
such, on January 9, 2013, the Commission recommended the government
authorities that government measures and actions should be taken for the
protection of the right of residence, of access to medicine, and of labor of
the homeless, and also for the promotion of social awareness of the
homeless.
Currently, the number of emergency shelters including emergency
beds is much smaller than is necessary. The government is, therefore,
asked to come up with necessary measures to supplement its support for
the housing of the homeless. The NHKCK asked for a more fundamental
action of the government in this regard, and pointed out that the
government should consider the support of the homeless an important
factor in making a comprehensive plan for the housing of the people in
need. In particular, the Commission recommended the Ministry of Land,
Infrastructure and Transport to work out a measure to supply housing
for the homeless in connection with the protection of their right of
health, the promotion of their returning to normal social life, and other
medical welfare services.
In addition, the NHRCK recommended, for the benefit of the homeless,
the Ministry of Employment and Labor, the Ministry of Health and
Welfare, and regional governments to take necessary action for the
creation of jobs for the cause of self-reliance and social integration, for the
expansion of medical services considering the inaccessibility of the
homeless to medical facilities, and for the promotion of social awareness of
the homeless, respectively. In response, the Ministries informed the
Commission that they would implement the recommendations in the
32 ▪▪▪ Part
II. Major Activities of the Commission