Disability groups urge Aichi Governor to act on a possible legal violation regarding Nagoya castle’s accessibility

Written with extracts from The Mainichi Shimbun

May 11th 2018

On the 11th, “Aichi Disability Forum” a disability group formed in response to Aichi Prefecture’s policy regarding on Nagoya City’s decision not to install an elevator at Nagoya Castle castle tower after restoration.

The “Aichi Disability Forum” forum pointed out that not installing an elevator in the new castle tower violates the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Law for the Elimination of Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities. Such a policy falls under “unfair discriminatory treatment” prescribed by the prefectural ordinance and states that the governor strongly urges the governor to give advice, mediation and guidance to the city.

Under such ordinances, advice and guidance of the governor are the ‘makers’ rather than decisions made municipalities. The prefecture is going to consider countermeasures in the future.