Yoko Hayashi

is a Japanese lawyer and partner in the Athena Law Office. She was formerly an alternate member to the United Nations Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights from 2004 to 2006. In 2008, she became a member of the Committee which monitors the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), and in 2015 was serving as Chairperson of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women. Hayashi has used her legal expertise to improve the status and protect the rights of women. in Mito, Ibaraki, Japan and attended Waseda University, where she graduated with an LL.B. in law in 1979. She was admitted to the Daini Tokyo Bar Association in 1983

She has been a member of the Expert Committee on Violence against Women (from 2000–2013) and the Specialist Committee on Basic Issues (from 2009–present) for the Gender Equality Bureau of the Japanese Cabinet.

In 2004, she was selected as an alternate member to the United Nations Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights on which she served until 2006. and has served as an expert on the Women's Anti-Discrimination Committee throughout her tenure. The committee is responsible for completing human rights reviews of member countries and evaluating their performances on women's inclusion and protection. Hayashi served as the Chairperson of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (2015-2016).

Selected bibliography "Review on Child Abuse Prevention Law", Child Abuse and Neglect Vol. 2 No. 2, (2000) (in Japanese). "What is 'Discrimination Against Women'?: Unfair treatment of women for reasons of pregnancy and birth and the equal opportunity law", Josei to Rodo 21 Vol. 15 No. 58, pp. 7–16 (2006) (in Japanese). "Discrimination against children born out of wedlock in terms of inheritance", Handbook on Practice of International Human Rights Law (2007) (in Japanese). "The Human Rights Council from the viewpoint of the Subcommission on Human Rights", Human Rights International No. 18, pp. 107–109 (2007) (in Japanese). "Protection for victims under the revised anti-domestic violence law, the human rights mechanism in prospect", Yushindo-Kobunsha (Tokyo) (2007) (in Japanese). "Women’s Rights are Human Rights—issues surrounding the contemporary women’s rights", The memorial publication of 60th anniversary of Japan Civil Liberties Union, Shinhyoron (2007) (in Japanese). "The 30th anniversary of CEDAW, the achievements and challenges”. Human Rights Monthly No. 251, (2009) (in Japanese). "CEDAW –State Responsibility and Remedies to Victims", Gender and Law Society, Vol. 1 pp 139–153 (2012) (in Japanese). "Implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women in Japan", Journal of East Asia and International Law, Vol. 6 No. 2 (30 September 2013): pp 341–366 (in English). Database: DBpia