Statement by H.E. Ambassador ISHIKANE Kimihiro, Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations, at the Informal Meeting of the General Assembly to Commemorate the 50th anniversary of the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) Programme and the 20th anniversary of the International Year of Volunteers

Mr. President,
 
It is my great pleasure to address the General Assembly on the occasion to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the United Nations Volunteer Programme and the twentieth anniversary of the International Year of Volunteers.
 
Japan highly appreciates your timely initiative to discuss what volunteerism can offer in realizing the objectives of the United Nations, including the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
 
Mr President,
 
The resolution entitled "Fiftieth anniversary of the United Nations Volunteers programme and twentieth anniversary of the International Year of Volunteers" was recently adopted in the Third Committee by consensus with one hundred and thirty-three co-sponsors.
 
This International Year of Volunteers in 2001 was proclaimed by the General Assembly based on Japan’s proposal in 1997. The idea originated from Mr. NAKATA Takehito, the father of the late UN volunteer Mr. NAKATA Atsuhito, who succumbed to a bullet in his line of duty in Cambodia in 1993. The father devoted the rest of his life to advocating international volunteerism as a UNV honorary ambassador. It was father NAKATA’s call for this noble cause that prompted the Member States to adopt the International Year in 1997.
 
Volunteerism has been at the heart of Japan's international contribution. The Government of Japan launched the Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers (JOCV) Program in 1965 to support its citizens wishing to engage in the economic and social development activities in the developing countries. To date, over 54,000 volunteers have been dispatched to over 90 countries worldwide. These volunteers, who live and work with the local people in the communities, and their spirit of being together on the ground have become one of the main pillars that uphold Japan’s development cooperation policy.
 
Today, I am especially pleased to have Mr. ITO Yoshikazu for this meeting. He served as one of the first 35 UN Volunteers recruited in 1971 after the establishment of the UNV. By then, he had already served as a JOCV and devoted all his life to development. His rich experience and insights should offer much to reflect on.
 
Volunteerism is, after all, an important means to mobilize the potentials of grass roots goodwill into a greater force to strengthen human security and to change the society for the better, both at the global and local levels.
 
In Japan, in 1995, around 1.4 million citizens gathered in Kobe to support the victims of the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake. Ever since, in the aftermath of every natural disaster in Japan, a large number of citizens have gathered to take part in volunteer activities. Participation of citizens to protect and empower their peers, including youth, older persons, women and persons with disabilities, is the key to building an inclusive and resilient society.
 
In this respect, I would like to renew my sincere appreciation to all the volunteers around the world for their dedication during the difficult time of the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
Mr. President,
 
Last but not least, allow me to congratulate the UNV for launching “2022 State of the World’s Volunteerism Report,” which illustrates how volunteerism can establish better partnerships between people and states to address current challenges. I hope that this important report will add further momentum to volunteerism.
 
I would like to conclude by hoping that today’s meeting will be a good opportunity for each one of us to reflect on advancing volunteerism, as we look to the International Volunteer Day on December the 5th.
 
I thank you very much.