CARE Internationalによる第65回国連女性の地位委員会（CSW65）サイドイベントにおける石兼大使開会挨拶
令和3年3月17日
Good morning, distinguished guests and dear colleagues,
Thank you, Deepmala for the introduction.
Let me start by expressing my sincere appreciation to CARE International for its leadership in bringing us together to discuss gender mainstreaming in the context of humanitarian crisis. I also congratulate CARE for the launch of the report “TIME FOR A BETTER BARGAIN,” focusing on this very important theme. I am so humbled to be the only co-sponsor from the UN Member State.
According to the report card given to us by CARE in this report, the performance of major donors including Japan are not so “satisfactory” in this area. Nevertheless, I decided to co-sponsor since Japan fully supports CARE’s idea that our assistance, in particular those under the humanitarian crisis, should fully take into account the needs of women and girls. The report points out gaps in resources, funding, and initiatives among the major donors and UN agencies. Some may find it a pebble in the shoe, but critical views are always needed for us to improve. I must emphasize the report contains a number of insightful data, analysis and recommendations for the traditional aid community to seriously consider.
With regard to the three indicators applicable to donor countries set forth in the CARE report, Japan received the best rating among 11 donors on indicator 2, namely, “allocation of funding to gender equality programs.” Japan is the only country rated as “approaching” the 15% target. With regard to indicator 3, namely, “account equally for the needs of women and girls,” Japan was one of the four donors with “satisfactory” performance. I would like to talk about Japan’s ODA policy that supports this outcome.
First, human security. Japan’s Development Cooperation Charter, decided by the Cabinet in 2015 stipulates that human security is “the guiding principle that lies at the foundation of Japan's development cooperation.” I was directly in charge of the adoption of this document as Director General for International Cooperation. Human security calls for people-centred, comprehensive, context-specific and prevention-oriented responses that strengthen the protection and empowerment of all people. Gender considerations are naturally at the forefront of our humanitarian responses.
Second, humanitarian-development-peace nexus. By placing the vulnerable people at the centre and reflecting on their daily needs and concerns on the ground, you come to recognize the close interlinkages between peace, development and human rights. International support for humanitarian, development and peace efforts must always be coherent and seamless, and the players should never act in silos. I believe CARE, being a practitioner in the field, fully shares this view. And throughout this seamless people-centred response on the ground, women and girls should receive special attention.
In Zambia, for example, JICA collaborates with UNHCR to support refugee communities to provide medical, legal and counseling services to victims and survivors of sexual violence; provide education to girls and train women teachers; and promote dialogues between host communities and refugees, and assist women organize cooperatives to prevent future conflicts. By conducting such comprehensive, people-centred and down-to-earth assistance, the protection and empowerment of girls and women will automatically be recognized as a priority issue.
These are Japan’s basic policies for humanitarian response as well as my thoughts behind the decision to co-sponsor this event. I look forward to hearing more successful cases in Cox’s Bazar, South Sudan and Haiti in today’s event.
I hope today’s discussion will be thought-provoking to all and lead to concrete actions on the ground.
Thank you.
Thank you, Deepmala for the introduction.
Let me start by expressing my sincere appreciation to CARE International for its leadership in bringing us together to discuss gender mainstreaming in the context of humanitarian crisis. I also congratulate CARE for the launch of the report “TIME FOR A BETTER BARGAIN,” focusing on this very important theme. I am so humbled to be the only co-sponsor from the UN Member State.
According to the report card given to us by CARE in this report, the performance of major donors including Japan are not so “satisfactory” in this area. Nevertheless, I decided to co-sponsor since Japan fully supports CARE’s idea that our assistance, in particular those under the humanitarian crisis, should fully take into account the needs of women and girls. The report points out gaps in resources, funding, and initiatives among the major donors and UN agencies. Some may find it a pebble in the shoe, but critical views are always needed for us to improve. I must emphasize the report contains a number of insightful data, analysis and recommendations for the traditional aid community to seriously consider.
With regard to the three indicators applicable to donor countries set forth in the CARE report, Japan received the best rating among 11 donors on indicator 2, namely, “allocation of funding to gender equality programs.” Japan is the only country rated as “approaching” the 15% target. With regard to indicator 3, namely, “account equally for the needs of women and girls,” Japan was one of the four donors with “satisfactory” performance. I would like to talk about Japan’s ODA policy that supports this outcome.
First, human security. Japan’s Development Cooperation Charter, decided by the Cabinet in 2015 stipulates that human security is “the guiding principle that lies at the foundation of Japan's development cooperation.” I was directly in charge of the adoption of this document as Director General for International Cooperation. Human security calls for people-centred, comprehensive, context-specific and prevention-oriented responses that strengthen the protection and empowerment of all people. Gender considerations are naturally at the forefront of our humanitarian responses.
Second, humanitarian-development-peace nexus. By placing the vulnerable people at the centre and reflecting on their daily needs and concerns on the ground, you come to recognize the close interlinkages between peace, development and human rights. International support for humanitarian, development and peace efforts must always be coherent and seamless, and the players should never act in silos. I believe CARE, being a practitioner in the field, fully shares this view. And throughout this seamless people-centred response on the ground, women and girls should receive special attention.
In Zambia, for example, JICA collaborates with UNHCR to support refugee communities to provide medical, legal and counseling services to victims and survivors of sexual violence; provide education to girls and train women teachers; and promote dialogues between host communities and refugees, and assist women organize cooperatives to prevent future conflicts. By conducting such comprehensive, people-centred and down-to-earth assistance, the protection and empowerment of girls and women will automatically be recognized as a priority issue.
These are Japan’s basic policies for humanitarian response as well as my thoughts behind the decision to co-sponsor this event. I look forward to hearing more successful cases in Cox’s Bazar, South Sudan and Haiti in today’s event.
I hope today’s discussion will be thought-provoking to all and lead to concrete actions on the ground.
Thank you.