YouSaid · the spoken record

Akasaka

lines on the record: 49
first: 2000-07-26
most recent: 2001-10-31
sittings or episodes: 7
sources: un-security-council

Every line below is reproduced as it was said and linked to the record it came from. Nothing here is summarised or generated. Directory · Search · Corrections

“With this recognition, I would like to conclude my statement by assuring the people of East Timor that the Government of Japan will remain a partner as they tackle the challenging but rewarding task of nation-building.”
2001-10-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4403Resumption1 (2001) · source
“After all, it is the people of East Timor themselves who are responsible for their future. A clear sense of ownership on the part of a recipient is also essential in order to make foreign assistance truly effective for the development of the country concerned. It is evident that independent East Timor will continue to need international assistance. The donors' meeting on East Timor scheduled to be held in Oslo in December will be important in this context. The Government of Japan is ready to play a substantial role in ensuring that the meeting is productive. But that meeting is just one, albeit important, step in the long and difficult process of nation-building that the future Government and the people of East Timor will have to pursue in the coming years.”
2001-10-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4403Resumption1 (2001) · source
“It is advisable that discussions commence promptly on detailed and concrete plans for these components, including the level and modality of funding. I am pleased to see that the process towards independence is making steady progress thanks to the efforts not only of the people of East Timor, but also of the international community and the United Nations, particularly of Mr. Vieira de Mello and his entire UNTAET team. Obviously, UNTAET and the East Timorese will be required to make further efforts in order to successfully achieve independence in May next year. But the progress made so far provides all the parties concerned with a solid basis on which to plan for the future. The efforts of the East Timorese themselves are crucially important for their nation-building in the post-independence period.”
2001-10-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4403Resumption1 (2001) · source
“This is necessary in order to give assurance and encouragement to the people of East Timor, as well as to those countries which have a strong interest in the political stability and economic and social development of East Timor. As rightly pointed out in the Secretary-General's report, the follow-on mission should include a military component, a civilian police component and a component for civil administration. In this context, the Government of Japan supports the Secretary-General's concept of a United Nations mission in the post- independence period. We hope that, based upon the further accelerated work of the Secretariat in the coming weeks, the follow-on mission will be endorsed in the form of a Security Council resolution by the end of next January, when UNTAET's mandate is to be renewed.”
2001-10-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4403Resumption1 (2001) · source
“The Government of Japan welcomes this report, which is the valuable result of the work done in New York and in Dili over the past several months. It would have been desirable if the report had been more detailed with regard to the shape of the United Nations presence in the post-independence period. But we understand well that making accurate assessments of the situation on the ground and drawing up an optimal and feasible plan based on those assessments are not easy tasks. I am therefore grateful to Mr. Vieira de Mello, who has provided us today with additional details to supplement the Secretary- General's report. It is important that the Security Council provide, at an early date, as clear an indication as possible with respect to the continued presence of the United Nations in the post-independence period.”
2001-10-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4403Resumption1 (2001) · source
“I would like to express, on behalf of the Japanese Government, our gratitude to you, Mr. President, for travelling from Ireland to New York in order to chair today's public meeting on the situation in East Timor. We sincerely appreciate the leadership of Ireland on this important matter. My appreciation also goes to the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Sergio Vieira de Mello, and to the Chief Minister of the Transitional Government of East Timor and the other members of the delegation for their presence at this meeting today. At the outset, I would like to thank Secretary- General Annan for putting together the report on the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET).”
2001-10-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4403Resumption1 (2001) · source
“The crisis can be resolved only through serious efforts by both parties based on self-restraint and mutual trust. The international community must stand by such efforts. I would like to assure you, Mr. President, that Japan remains ready to extend every possible support, both political and economic, for the resolution of the current crisis, in cooperation and coordination with the international community.”
2001-08-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4357Resumption1 (2001) · source
“As Japan has stated on various occasions, the serious deterioration of the Palestinian economy is a matter of grave concern to us. Economic difficulties have a direct and serious impact on the real life of the Palestinians and no doubt have a negative effect on the peace process. Here again, we must avoid the vicious circle of the deterioration of the economy and the escalation of hatred and violence. In this context, the economic closure imposed on the Palestinians must be lifted and the tax transfer to the Palestinian Authority must be resumed. My delegation would like to add, in this regard, that Japan has extended contributions to the Palestinians amounting to $21 million since the end of last September, when the current state of violence broke out.”
2001-08-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4357Resumption1 (2001) · source
“Japan also urges the Palestinian Authority to exert its utmost efforts to prevent the recurrence of terrorist attacks, which cannot be justified for any reason. Japan would also like to stress that the recommendations of the Mitchell report should be fully implemented at the earliest possible time. In this connection, we would like to recall the G-8 Genoa Summit statement on the Middle East, issued on 21 July, which states that "third-party monitoring, accepted by both parties, would serve their interests in implementing the Mitchell report". Mr. Seiken Sugiura, Japan's Senior Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs, conveyed these views of Japan to the countries of the region during his trip to the Middle East earlier this month, when he met with political leaders of Egypt, Israel, the Palestinian Authority, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon.”
2001-08-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4357Resumption1 (2001) · source
“A vicious cycle of violence and hatred can do nothing but bring about more tragedy and decrease opportunities for a just, lasting and comprehensive peace, which can be brought about only by negotiations based on mutual trust. Japan calls upon all the parties concerned to put an immediate end to acts of violence, provocation and retaliation, and to any other actions that could further aggravate the situation. We urge all the parties to exert maximum self-restraint. In this context, Japan urges the Israeli Government to put an end to the excessive use of force, entries into the areas under the control of the Palestinian Authority, and the seizure of Orient House and other properties belonging to Palestinian institutions in East Jerusalem.”
2001-08-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4357Resumption1 (2001) · source
“Let me first of all congratulate you, Sir, on your assumption of the presidency of the Security Council for the month of August. My delegation would like to express its appreciation to you for providing us with the opportunity to present Japan's views on the grave situation we face in the Middle East. Japan is deeply concerned that the situation in the occupied territories has been witnessing the worst crisis of the current peace process, which started in 1993. We are alarmed by the rising death toll there, mostly among civilians, including innocent children. We express our deepest condolences to the bereaved families, and our heartfelt sympathy to the injured.”
2001-08-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4357Resumption1 (2001) · source
“Japan will continue to actively participate in conflict prevention efforts, as well as in efforts to devise an effective conflict prevention mechanism within the United Nations system, bearing in mind the recommendations contained in the Secretary-General's report.”
2001-06-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4334Resumption1 (2001) · source
“It is of course crucial that relevant countries, including those with the capacity to contribute to the conflict prevention efforts, be included in such groups of friends so as to ensure that they are truly effective in working out measures for conflict prevention. I would also like to emphasize that those groups should include representatives of the Bretton Woods institutions and other development- oriented organizations, as appropriate, in order to respond to economic requirements of the conflict- affected areas. It is clear that effective conflict prevention will be an increasingly important area of United Nations endeavour in the years to come. Effective conflict prevention will require joint as well as independent actions, as the situation requires.”
2001-06-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4334Resumption1 (2001) · source
“We, therefore, support the ideas contained in the report for strengthening the Secretary-General's traditional roles in this area by, for example, increasing the use of interdisciplinary United Nations fact-finding and confidence-building missions in volatile areas, developing regional preventive strategies with relevant regional organizations and establishing an informal network of eminent persons for conflict prevention. All of those efforts, however, must be made in an appropriate manner and in accordance with the Secretary-General's mandate as derived from the relevant provisions of the Charter. We also share the view that ad hoc groups of friends of the Secretary-General can be useful in supplementing the Secretary-General's conflict prevention activities.”
2001-06-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4334Resumption1 (2001) · source
“In addition, the suggestion in the report of new mechanisms for the Security Council's discussion of prevention requires careful consideration, since these could duplicate the ongoing activities of the Secretariat. Though the primary role in maintaining international peace and security lies with the Security Council, we believe that the Secretary-General and the Secretariat, with the flexibility they exercise through the dispatch of special representatives and envoys as well as through other measures, have a unique and important role to play in conflict prevention.”
2001-06-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4334Resumption1 (2001) · source
“It should also be noted that a United Nations presence in East Timor after the departure of the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor could be considered from that perspective. Concerning the Security Council's fact-finding missions to regions at risk, my delegation agrees that such missions can be effective, particularly when deployed at the initial stages of a conflict. Before the Security Council decides to dispatch fact-finding missions in future, we would further like to see it identify concrete needs and clear objectives, based upon the assessment of the outcome of past missions. Clear criteria for sending such missions must be established; their terms of reference must be specified and their financing well clarified.”
2001-06-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4334Resumption1 (2001) · source
“While we tend to concur with that statement, we consider it essential that the Council itself undertake a thorough appraisal and examination of its past preventive deployment efforts, such as the United Nations Preventive Deployment Force in Macedonia and the United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic, taking into account what has happened since the departure of those missions. In that context, it should be noted that traditional peacekeeping missions, such as the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force and the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization in the Middle East, have prevented the recurrence of the conflicts in their respective areas of deployment.”
2001-06-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4334Resumption1 (2001) · source
“Today I would like to offer Japan's preliminary comments on the roles of the Security Council and of the Secretariat in conflict prevention, on the understanding that we will have another opportunity to offer our views when the General Assembly takes up the same topic in mid-July. First, let me speak of the role of the Security Council. We share the view that the Security Council needs to discuss cases of prevention on a continuous basis. As for the Council's efforts with regard to preventive deployment, the dispatch of missions and new mechanisms suggested in the report, I would like to make the following comments. On preventive deployment, the Secretary-General states in his report that past experience shows that preventive deployment can make a crucial contribution to conflict prevention.”
2001-06-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4334Resumption1 (2001) · source
“First of all, I would like to welcome your presence here today, Mr. Minister for Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh, and the assumption of the presidency of the Security Council by your country. I would like to thank you, Sir, for affording non- members of the Council the opportunity to express their views on this important subject. I would like also to convey my appreciation to the Secretary-General for issuing his long-awaited comprehensive report on the prevention of armed conflict (S/2001/574). Since the last time the Security Council discussed this issue, we have witnessed growing international awareness of the importance of conflict prevention. I fully agree with the Secretary-General's view, as expressed in his report, that the time has come to translate the rhetoric of conflict prevention into concrete action.”
2001-06-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4334Resumption1 (2001) · source
“Japan has provided emergency and humanitarian assistance as well as financial contributions to support the activities of the Joint Military Commission and the inter-Congolese dialogue. As the situation becomes more stable, we look forward to considering extending assistance to the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo for its nation-building efforts.”
2001-06-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4327Resumption1 (2001) · source
“Fourthly, Japan is greatly encouraged by Sir Ketumile Masire's announcement that a preparatory meeting for the inter-Congolese dialogue is to begin on 16 July. We sincerely hope that this will advance the democratization process, and we call upon the international community to support the facilitation efforts of Sir Ketumile Masire, Finally, my Government welcomed the announcement of the reopening of the Congo River as well as the proposed establishment of a Congo River Basin Commission. The revitalization of trade by reopening the country's main inland waterway system would be a significant milestone on the path towards economic reconstruction and development.”
2001-06-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4327Resumption1 (2001) · source
“Secondly, my Government welcomes the Secretary-General's recommendation that, while MONUC continues to complete phase II of its operations, the Security Council authorize the transition to phase III of MONUC deployment, which entails the disarmament, demobilization, reintegration and resettlement of armed groups. We believe this overlapping of the activities for the completion of phase II with the preparatory activities of phase III will reduce the risk of losing momentum in the peace process in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Thirdly, an expansion of the civilian components of MONUC is necessary if the Security Council is to have a longer-term commitment to the peace process in the region.”
2001-06-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4327Resumption1 (2001) · source
“Peace-building and post-conflict reconstruction and development, democratization and a halt to the illicit exploitation of natural resources must likewise be pursued from a regional perspective. Thus, my Government has argued that, as part of its efforts to achieve a peaceful settlement of the conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Security Council should also address the economic and security problems in neighbouring Burundi, Rwanda and Uganda. For this reason the recent deterioration of the situation in Burundi is all the more worrisome to my Government. Japan shares the View of the Secretary- General that there can be no lasting peace in the Democratic Republic of the Congo without a comprehensive settlement of the situation in Burundi.”
2001-06-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4327Resumption1 (2001) · source
“Japan has been closely following the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, recognizing that world stability and prosperity cannot prevail in the twenty-first century unless the problems of Africa are resolved. For this reason, my Government places great emphasis on the need to support the African countries' own efforts for their development, as well as conflict- prevention measures and refugee-assistance programmes. Today I would like to emphasize the following points with respect to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. First, my Government has long emphasized that peace in the Democratic Republic of the Congo needs to be considered in the wider context of consolidating peace throughout the region, and must therefore be pursued with a comprehensive and integrated approach.”
2001-06-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4327Resumption1 (2001) · source
“I would like to thank you, Mr. President, for convening this meeting as a follow- up to the Security Council's recent mission to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. First of all, let me welcome the presence of Mr. She Okitundu, Foreign Minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. I would also like to thank Mr. Otunnu for his excellent report this morning. My Government commends the Security Council for its work and for its timely report. We read with great interest the Secretary-General's eighth report on the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC), which is based on the mission's report. We appreciate its focus on reconstruction and development issues in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and note its recommendation that MONUC's mandate be extended for one year.”
2001-06-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4327Resumption1 (2001) · source
“In this connection, I would like to call the attention of the members of the Council to the communique that was issued at the conclusion of the G-8 Okinawa Summit last July, which contained a paragraph calling for the suspension of illegal logging and trade practices in the interest of sustainable forest management. Japan is committed to implementing the provisions of that communique in cooperation with the international community.”
2001-05-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4317Resumption1 (2001) · source
“Before concluding, I would like to offer my comments on the reference made in the report to the companies located in various countries, including Japan, which the report claims are importing uncertified timber from a Ugandan-Thai forest company called the DARA-Forest, located in the Ituri area of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Japanese authorities are investigating the matter and would appreciate any concrete evidence that the Panel of Experts might have to substantiate the statement made in the report and that would assist our Government in its investigation. I wish to assure members that Japan is doing its utmost to halt such illegal practices.”
2001-05-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4317Resumption1 (2001) · source
“As pointed out in the Secretary-General's recent report on the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (S/2001/373), the Council must now begin to contemplate entering phase III, which involves the withdrawal of foreign forces as well as the implementation of the process of disarmament, demobilization and reintegration or resettlement of ex-soldiers. In this reconstruction and development phase, social and economic assistance will be especially critical. To ensure that it is extended as smoothly and efficiently as possible, it is incumbent upon the Security Council to cooperate more closely with major donor countries, as well as with international financial institutions such as the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank and with the United Nations Development Programme.”
2001-05-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4317Resumption1 (2001) · source
“It will be necessary to pursue peace-building, post-conflict reconstruction, development and democratization from a regional perspective. Secondly, in order to ensure the effectiveness of such a region-wide integrated approach, the Council must ensure the smooth transition from one stage of the peace process to the next, from conflict resolution to peace-building to post-conflict development. This will require a coherent strategy throughout the entire period of United Nations involvement. Any gap in the extension of international assistance required at different stages, particularly at a point of transition from one stage to the next, must be avoided.”
2001-05-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4317Resumption1 (2001) · source
“Although the report before us contains a number of recommendations for curtailing the illicit activities, today I would like to focus my comments on the following two points. First, the relationship between the illicit exploitation of natural resources and the protraction of the conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo must be considered in the wider context of consolidating peace throughout the region. This will require a comprehensive and integrated approach. In particular, as part of its efforts to achieve a peaceful settlement of the conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Security Council should at the same time address the economic and security problems in neighbouring Burundi, Rwanda and Uganda.”
2001-05-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4317Resumption1 (2001) · source
“Japan urges all the parties concerned to implement the Lusaka Peace Agreement without further delay, and calls upon the Security Council to make every effort to fully implement phase II of the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The illicit exploitation of diamonds and other natural resources must be stopped, as it poses one of the main obstacles to the settlement of the conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and is a cause of recurring open hostilities. Indeed, as mentioned in the report of the Panel of Experts, the exploitation of non-diamond resources, including such mineral resources as gold and coltan, as well as timber, is also fuelling the conflict in the eastern part of the country.”
2001-05-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4317Resumption1 (2001) · source
“At the outset, I would like to express my Government's shock and deep regret at the deaths of six workers of the International Committee of the Red Cross in the Democratic Republic of the Congo on 27 April, and to extend our sincere condolences to their bereaved families. Such heinous attacks on humanitarian workers must be condemned. Before commenting on the report of the Panel of Experts on the Illegal Exploitation of Natural Resources and Other Forms of Wealth in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, I would like to emphasize that the resolution of the conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo - in which nearly half of the countries on the African continent are involved and more than 3 million lives have been lost- is critical not only to the countries directly concerned, but to the peace and prosperity of Africa as a whole.”
2001-05-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4317Resumption1 (2001) · source
“Japan believes deeply that we should put emphasis on a human-centred approach which gives priority to respect for the life and dignity of every human being in order to achieve in the coming century an international society characterized by peace and stability. We are convinced that greater participation by women in the process of peacemaking, peacekeeping and peace-building would greatly contribute to the consolidation of peace and stability, as women are the ones who have been experiencing a serious degradation of life and dignity in armed conflict. I would like to conclude my statement by reaffirming Japan's readiness to take an active part in the efforts of the international community to address this issue, guided by the Council's debate here today.”
2000-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4208Resumption1 (2000) · source
“Japan intends to continue those efforts. My third point is the importance of a comprehensive approach to this issue, and the concomitant need for cooperation among international organizations, Governments, non-governmental organizations and other partners of the international community. Today's debate should be a turning point for us. We should move from a phase of advocacy to one of concrete action. Japan is of the View that relevant international organizations, such as UNIFEM, that have gender expertise should strengthen their efforts to study specific measures to achieve gender mainstreaming in conflict prevention, peacemaking, peacekeeping and peace-building, and to implement programmes to assist women in the field.”
2000-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4208Resumption1 (2000) · source
“Japan has long attached special importance to the role of women in addressing poverty, which is a root cause of conflict, and for that reason has promoted the Women in Development initiative that it launched at the Fourth World Conference on Women. In view of the need to enhance the participation of women in the rehabilitation process, which makes an important contribution to peace-building, Japan actively supported the convening of a symposium on empowerment of women in post-conflict reconstruction, held by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Tokyo last July. Further, Japan has been implementing many projects in areas such as education, health and the economic independence of women in countries in Asia and Africa, such as Cambodia and Ethiopia, all of which have been severely damaged as a result of conflict.”
2000-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4208Resumption1 (2000) · source
“I would like to appeal to all the parties to conflicts and to the international community as a whole to form as clear a picture of the situation as possible, face up to it and together take the measures necessary to protect women and girls and to introduce the viewpoint of women victims into the peacemaking process. The second point I would like to emphasize is the importance of the role of women, especially in peace- building. Because women are such a Vital part of every grass-roots community, it is essential that they be involved if the vicious circle of poverty and conflict is to be broken and if rehabilitation is to be successful.”
2000-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4208Resumption1 (2000) · source
“I believe that, with these precious inputs, our discussion today will lead us to an exploration of further concrete actions in this area. I would like to take this opportunity to state the views of Japan on some important points relating to this issue. First of all, there is a clear need to strengthen efforts to provide protection to women and girls in conflict situations. In view of the horrific reality that we are facing, where innocent civilians continue to be victimized in armed conflicts, the protection of women and girls should be our paramount concern.”
2000-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4208Resumption1 (2000) · source
“This year, at the Beijing + 5 special session of the General Assembly, the international community reaffirmed its strong commitment to mainstreaming a gender perspective in every area of human endeavour. Among the efforts being made to follow up that commitment, this discussion in the Security Council is particularly timely and meaningful, as the issue of conflict is the most critical issue that we have to tackle in the twenty-first century. In that context, we welcome the efforts already made in this area, such as the participation of women in the Burundi peacemaking process and the adoption of the Namibia Plan of Action on the occasion of the Windhoek seminar on mainstreaming a gender perspective in multidimensional peace support operations.”
2000-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4208Resumption1 (2000) · source
“From that standpoint, Japan shares the view that a gender perspective must be taken into account, and that concrete issues such as the protection of women in armed conflicts and their participation in peacemaking, peacekeeping and peace-building should be further discussed if progress is to be made in this area. I should therefore like to pay high tribute to you, Mr. President, for your thoughtful initiative in convening this open debate. My delegation also commends Ms. Angela King, Special Adviser on Gender Issues and Advancement of Women, and Ms. Noeleen Heyzer, Executive Director of the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), for their efforts in this regard.”
2000-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4208Resumption1 (2000) · source
“Having experienced frequent outbreaks of regional conflict since the end of the cold war, the international community has come to realize the need to address major issues relating to conflicts, such as the protection of innocent civilians in armed conflict and the prevention and settlement of conflicts, from a wider perspective and in a more comprehensive manner, in order to put an end to the scourge of armed conflicts in the new century. In this context, for example, significant progress has been made in the field of the protection of children during and after conflicts through efforts to put emphasis on that issue.”
2000-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4208Resumption1 (2000) · source
“We hope that the meeting will promote the full implementation of the agenda for action adopted at the first World Congress, held in 1996, and that it will thus contribute to eradicating the commercial sexual exploitation of children.”
2000-07-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4176Resumption1 (2000) · source
“Finally, I would like to introduce a further initiative of Japan to protect children from another serious kind of damage. Sexual exploitation of children, such as child prostitution and pornography, not only causes serious health hazards, including unwanted pregnancies, HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases, but also traps children in often long-term psychological traumas and deprives them of their innocence. Because of the grave concern it feels about this problem, the Government of Japan has decided to host a second World Congress Against Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children, in cooperation with the organization known as End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography and Trafficking of Children for Sexual Purposes (ECPAT) and with UNICEF, in Yokohama from 17 to 20 December 2001.”
2000-07-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4176Resumption1 (2000) · source
“In addition, on 14 July, the Government of Japan decided to extend to UNICEF a grant of $1.23 million for the purpose of assisting the smooth and successful implementation of its project to reconstruct elementary schools in East Timor. The impact of armed conflict on children varies with the circumstances, yet the consequences are always the same: tremendous fear and pain for those who are our future. Strong political will, collective international pressure and concrete action are essential to end the most horrendous acts against children in armed conflicts. Japan reaffirms its commitment to continue working with others on this issue on the basis of a comprehensive approach, and to create a world in which children need no longer have any fear of being children.”
2000-07-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4176Resumption1 (2000) · source
“To this end, the Government of Japan has been making significant financial contributions to humanitarian programmes of United Nations agencies such as UNICEF and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), as well as to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). For example, in 1998 and 1999, it contributed a total of $1.8 million to projects that included support for children in Sierra Leone through the United Nations trust fund and through UNICEF. More recently, Japan has approved the release of $16 million, for financing a UNICEF project on the reactivation of quality primary education in Kosovo, from the human security fund that Japan established at the United Nations to deal with threats to human life, livelihood and dignity.”
2000-07-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4176Resumption1 (2000) · source
“Now that the legal framework has been set, it is time for us to strive to realize on the ground the principles of the Optional Protocol. Raising public awareness on the specific problems that children encounter in the course armed conflicts is also crucial to creating the international pressure necessary to halt such suffering. I would like to take this opportunity to introduce some of Japan's initiatives to support the recovery of war-affected children. The scourge of war affects the physical and emotional status of children especially deeply in post- conflict situations. As the Secretary-General has rightly pointed out in his report, the rehabilitation and education of children who are recruited as child soldiers, sexually abused, displaced or separated from their parents needs to be seen as a priority in the peace- rebuilding process.”
2000-07-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4176Resumption1 (2000) · source
“For its part, Japan has engaged in a number of activities to advance a culture of prevention, such as hosting a series of international conferences on development in Africa and on the issue of small arms and light weapons, both of which indeed have an impact on children. The two optional protocols to the Convention on the Rights of Child, which were long-awaited legal instruments essential to strengthening further the protection of children, were finally adopted this year. Japan participated actively in the negotiations on the consensus texts, and believes that the Optional Protocol on the involvement of children in armed conflict certainly gives additional legitimacy to the idea that children must not become the victims of armed conflict by being made its targets or its instruments.”
2000-07-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4176Resumption1 (2000) · source
“As was made clear at the Group of 8 summit, the plight of war- affected children is one of the most disturbing human security issues facing the world today. It is therefore gratifying to note that the report of the Secretary- General on children and armed conflict (S/2000/712) contains concrete recommendations that will guide us in the actions we take from here on out, actions in which Japan intends to play its part. First and foremost, I wish to emphasize the importance of conflict prevention for the protection of our children. In the open debate held in the Security Council on 20 July, Japan stressed the importance of a comprehensive approach to preventing conflicts that combines political, economic, social and humanitarian measures, and the importance of fostering a culture of prevention.”
2000-07-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4176Resumption1 (2000) · source
“They also agreed that the United Nations should continue to play a pivotal role in the century to come. Almost a year has passed since the Council adopted resolution 1261 (1999), and heightened international attention to this issue has led to several encouraging developments. In this regard, I would like to commend Mr. Olara Otunnu, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and other relevant international agencies, as well as civil society, for their activities that have contributed to such positive changes. Despite these developments, however, hundreds of thousands of children still live in fear and suffer from the cruel blows that war inflicts.”
2000-07-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4176Resumption1 (2000) · source
“Let me begin by congratulating you, Madam President, on your leadership in calling this open debate on children and armed conflict. Japan is happy to report to you that at the Group of Eight economic summit, which successfully concluded on Okinawa earlier this week, conflict prevention was highlighted as one of the most important issues. At their meeting at Miyazaki, the G-8 Foreign Ministers compiled the G-8 Miyazaki Initiative for Conflict Prevention. The issue of children in armed conflict is a matter of special consideration for G-8 leaders, and they agreed to take initiatives such as putting pressure on those who involve or target children in armed conflict. They also reaffirmed their commitment to human security through the creation of an environment where the dignity, well-being, safety and human rights of all people are ensured.”
2000-07-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4176Resumption1 (2000) · source