Remarks by H.E. Ambassador ISHIKANE Kimihiro, Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations, at the Special Briefing for UN Member States “Ending violence against children during COVID-19 and beyond”
2020/7/2
(Check against delivery)
Excellencies,
Dear colleagues,
As a board member of the Global Partnership to End Violence Against Children (GPeVAC) and one of its Pathfinding countries, Japan reaffirms its firm commitment to ending violence against children and creating a safer environment for them, including under this particularly difficult time of COVID-19 pandemic. We are working hard to develop our National Action Plan to End Violence Against Children expected to be finalized this year.
COVID-19 is causing a serious human security crisis, spreading across borders and striking the weakest segments of society. Japan is alarmed by its impact on children placed under already fragile situations. The international community must step up its efforts to reduce the disproportionate impact on these vulnerable children. In March, Japan provided emergency assistance of 28.8 million USD through UNICEF to assist countries prone to the impacts of COVID-19 by improving children’s access to quality health services. In April, Japan decided on an additional contribution of over 68.1 million USD to UNICEF.
Human security concept we promote implies that all individuals, in particular vulnerable people including children, are entitled to freedom from fear and freedom from want, with an equal opportunity to enjoy all their rights and fully develop their potential. We echo the urgent need to address the heightened risks of violence against children including abuse and exploitation, highlighted by the Secretary-General’s Policy Brief on the Impact of COVID-19 on Children and by the Leaders’ Statement jointly presented by 22 leading organizations.
Bearing in mind repeated calls for action to protect children, let me briefly share with you Japan’s recent efforts to this end.
In Japan, as school closures and voluntary stay-at-home orders continued, the opportunities to watch over children have diminished, which in turn increased the risks of child abuse. To mitigate the risks, we have been carrying out the “Reinforced Action Plan to Watch over Children” to ensure that child abuse is promptly detected and addressed by mobilizing local networks and establishing mechanisms for frequent monitoring over vulnerable children. With this Action Plan, we are making visits and phone calls to targeted children and pregnant women at least once a week to ensure a safe environment and provide necessary support.
Furthermore, it is critically important to create a society where children are protected from corporal punishment. Following the amendment of the Child Welfare Act in June 2019, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare established the guidelines to further clarify the definition of corporal punishment and the scope of its prohibition. As children spend more time at home under the current COVID-19 pandemic and are exposed to higher risk of corporal punishment, the Government of Japan is making additional effort to disseminate these guidelines.
Japan is determined to make every effort to achieve target 16.2 of the SDGs, and to ensure security for all children. We will continue to work closely with the United Nations, other Member States and civil society.
Thank you.
Dear colleagues,
As a board member of the Global Partnership to End Violence Against Children (GPeVAC) and one of its Pathfinding countries, Japan reaffirms its firm commitment to ending violence against children and creating a safer environment for them, including under this particularly difficult time of COVID-19 pandemic. We are working hard to develop our National Action Plan to End Violence Against Children expected to be finalized this year.
COVID-19 is causing a serious human security crisis, spreading across borders and striking the weakest segments of society. Japan is alarmed by its impact on children placed under already fragile situations. The international community must step up its efforts to reduce the disproportionate impact on these vulnerable children. In March, Japan provided emergency assistance of 28.8 million USD through UNICEF to assist countries prone to the impacts of COVID-19 by improving children’s access to quality health services. In April, Japan decided on an additional contribution of over 68.1 million USD to UNICEF.
Human security concept we promote implies that all individuals, in particular vulnerable people including children, are entitled to freedom from fear and freedom from want, with an equal opportunity to enjoy all their rights and fully develop their potential. We echo the urgent need to address the heightened risks of violence against children including abuse and exploitation, highlighted by the Secretary-General’s Policy Brief on the Impact of COVID-19 on Children and by the Leaders’ Statement jointly presented by 22 leading organizations.
Bearing in mind repeated calls for action to protect children, let me briefly share with you Japan’s recent efforts to this end.
In Japan, as school closures and voluntary stay-at-home orders continued, the opportunities to watch over children have diminished, which in turn increased the risks of child abuse. To mitigate the risks, we have been carrying out the “Reinforced Action Plan to Watch over Children” to ensure that child abuse is promptly detected and addressed by mobilizing local networks and establishing mechanisms for frequent monitoring over vulnerable children. With this Action Plan, we are making visits and phone calls to targeted children and pregnant women at least once a week to ensure a safe environment and provide necessary support.
Furthermore, it is critically important to create a society where children are protected from corporal punishment. Following the amendment of the Child Welfare Act in June 2019, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare established the guidelines to further clarify the definition of corporal punishment and the scope of its prohibition. As children spend more time at home under the current COVID-19 pandemic and are exposed to higher risk of corporal punishment, the Government of Japan is making additional effort to disseminate these guidelines.
Japan is determined to make every effort to achieve target 16.2 of the SDGs, and to ensure security for all children. We will continue to work closely with the United Nations, other Member States and civil society.
Thank you.