Statement by H.E. Ambassador YAMANAKA Osamu, Deputy Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations, at the Thirteen Session of the Open-ended Working Group on Ageing
2023/4/3
Madam Chair,
I would first like to thank the Chair, Her Excellency María del Carmen Squeff, other bureau members, and the secretariat for organizing this session.
The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated how health threats can be a heavy burden for human security, the concept that underpins Japan’s policy. In the face of new challenges and future pandemics, it is more important than ever that governments and other actors each play their respective roles in ensuring human security for all generations, including older persons, particularly in the context of the global health architecture.
In this architecture, Japan has been at the forefront of efforts to achieve universal health coverage (UHC). At the national level, Japan achieved UHC in 1961, enabling all residents in Japan to access appropriate healthcare services at an affordable cost. This means that medical care for older persons is substantially provided. While it is necessary to continuously adapt this system to changes in society, the Government is committed to long-term sustainability to ensure safety and security for all individuals, including older persons. Japan is also determined to contribute to global health by continuing efforts to mainstream UHC in the international community, and to building a global health architecture that is resilient to future public health crises, including through the G7 presidency this year.
Madam Chair,
Japan has extensive initiatives aimed at creating an inclusive environment for older persons.
One such initiative is to eradicate the digital divide and help older persons use digital technology effectively. In 2021, the Japanese Government launched a project to organize seminars to provide support for those who have difficulty using digital devices to go through administrative procedures online with their smartphones. More than 170,000 seminars were conducted at over 2,000 sites nationwide during the first year.
Madam Chair,
As a country with one of the highest population percentages of older persons, when considering the way forward on the issue of ageing, Japan considers it important for each country to continue to steadily implement existing frameworks, such as the Draft Resolution on the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing (2021–2030) which Japan co-facilitated, rather than to talk about adding frameworks, including a new international legal instrument. In this context, I hope that this session will be a valuable opportunity to share good practices, preparing us to respond adequately to the challenges faced in an ageing society.
I thank you.
I would first like to thank the Chair, Her Excellency María del Carmen Squeff, other bureau members, and the secretariat for organizing this session.
The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated how health threats can be a heavy burden for human security, the concept that underpins Japan’s policy. In the face of new challenges and future pandemics, it is more important than ever that governments and other actors each play their respective roles in ensuring human security for all generations, including older persons, particularly in the context of the global health architecture.
In this architecture, Japan has been at the forefront of efforts to achieve universal health coverage (UHC). At the national level, Japan achieved UHC in 1961, enabling all residents in Japan to access appropriate healthcare services at an affordable cost. This means that medical care for older persons is substantially provided. While it is necessary to continuously adapt this system to changes in society, the Government is committed to long-term sustainability to ensure safety and security for all individuals, including older persons. Japan is also determined to contribute to global health by continuing efforts to mainstream UHC in the international community, and to building a global health architecture that is resilient to future public health crises, including through the G7 presidency this year.
Madam Chair,
Japan has extensive initiatives aimed at creating an inclusive environment for older persons.
One such initiative is to eradicate the digital divide and help older persons use digital technology effectively. In 2021, the Japanese Government launched a project to organize seminars to provide support for those who have difficulty using digital devices to go through administrative procedures online with their smartphones. More than 170,000 seminars were conducted at over 2,000 sites nationwide during the first year.
Madam Chair,
As a country with one of the highest population percentages of older persons, when considering the way forward on the issue of ageing, Japan considers it important for each country to continue to steadily implement existing frameworks, such as the Draft Resolution on the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing (2021–2030) which Japan co-facilitated, rather than to talk about adding frameworks, including a new international legal instrument. In this context, I hope that this session will be a valuable opportunity to share good practices, preparing us to respond adequately to the challenges faced in an ageing society.
I thank you.