-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Foundation
When the 1st Asian Lawyers' Conference convened on the initiative of the International Association of Democratic Lawyers (IADL) in Calcutta in January 1955, Japanese lawyers dispatched a delegation to this Conference. In due course, the preparatory activities for the Conference led to the foundation of the Japan Lawyers International Solidarity Association (JALISA) in April 1957. The Association becomes a member of IADL soon after to engage in international solidarity activities as one of leading organizations of democratic lawyers in Japan.
The Association has not only sent its delegation to various international conferences, but has also endeavored to establish friendly relations with democratic lawyers of many countries.
As lawyers of Japan, the only A-bombed country in the world, it has also pursued efforts for the elimination of nuclear Weapons.

Goals
Recognizing the perilous situations in the world today, i.e. the continued presence of nuclear weapons and military blocks in spite of the end of the cold war, and the pursuance of profits by giant capitals etc., threatening the people's existence worthy of human dignity on a global scale, and being caused by the policy of the governments concerned, the Association deems it its grave mission to eradicate such threats and in justice.
Thus, in order to realize freedom, justice and peace in the wor1d, to establish unalienable rights of self-determination of all nations and peoples, to establish the rights of all peoples to live in equality and peace, to realize the ideal of "existence worthy of human dignity" as a universal standard of the value held by the world, and to establish the right to enjoy a rich nature and environment, the Association shall promote activities of exchange and solidarity with lawyers and lawyer organizations all over the world. In performing these solidarity activities, we are always based on the ideals of peace and human rights, which are set forth in the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the
International Covenants on Human Rights, the Charter of World Nature, the Constitution of Japan, etc.
The Association is continuing its activities in cooperation with many democratic lawyer organizations at home, taking a role as an interface to link various domestic activities for peace, democracy and human rights on an international level.

Present Activities
I. Participation in Various International Conferences
The Association dispatches its delegates to various international lawyers conferences for peace, democracy and human rights, including conferences sponsored by IADL.

II. Reinforcement Of lntercommunications and Solidarity Activities with Democratic Lawyers across the world. . .
The Association has promoted c.3mmunications and solildarity activities with democratic lawyers and lawyer organizations of
various countries of the world, from the standpoint, of achieving and guarding peace and human rights.
Particularly, emphasis is placed on perpetual contact with PPL and on solidarity activities with lawyers from countries in Asia.
The "Committee on Asia" was formed in the Board. By doing so, the Association is engaged in the preparatory activities to pave the way for the holding of the next conference of Lawyers of Asia and the Pacific in Japan.

III. Supporting Activities of NELAP
According to the communique of COLAP II, we are making preparations to establish the Network of Lawyers and the Pacific for Human Rights Information (NELAP).

IV. Activities to Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons
Being lawyers of the only A-bombed country in the world, we are engaged in the activities to abolish nuclear weapons and Support Hibakusha (A-bombed survivors). We also participate in various conferences and symposiums, as well as in petition campaigns to the United Nations for that purpose. We are also supporting IAIJANA and World Court Project against nuclear Weapons.

V. Various Research Activities
We have been active as a pivotal member of the Organizing Committee of the "Serial Symposia on the Tokyo International Tribunal (1946-1948)" which started in June 1986. So far, ten symposiums were held with positive results. Recently, we have formed a committee to study South Africa's apartheid problem.

VI. Branches
The Kansai Branch, in area of Osaka, Robe and Kyoto and the Tokai Branch in area of Nagoya are actively contributing to the overall activities of the Association. Although other branches have not been formed as yet in other regions, the Association is planning to form them in the near future.

VII. Publication Activities including the issue of a Bulletin
We formed the "Editing Committee" and are issuing the　Bulletin "Interjurist" eight times a year. The "Interjurist" carries important information and data, and promotes communication among the members. We also published reports on most of the international conferences in which our delegates participated, and a book, collecting essays and memoirs of members of the Association, entitled "Jinrui ni ashita are" (May Humanity Have Future) in commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the Association. At present, we are engaged in compiling a history of the Association since its inception. We also published, "For Peace, a Better Environment and Human Rights" (the proceedings of COLAP II) in September 1993.

Finance
The finance of the Association is managed primarily through membership fees, but in part through contributions and revenues from undertakings, including publications. The Association will not receive any financial assistance from the government or other corporations. It is under independent management, based purely on the volunteer spirit.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------