紛争関連性的暴力に関する安保理討論における石兼大使ステートメント
令和4年4月13日
(As delivered)
Mr. President,I would like to express my appreciation to the United Kingdom for convening this important open debate.
Despite all the prevention efforts, alarming reports of sexual violence in conflict continues to be made. Most recently, the Council heard concerning reports of sexual violence in Ukraine, as briefed to the Council on the 5th and 11th of April.
This is particularly disappointing to Japan, but we are determined to redouble our efforts to assist the national efforts to ensure accountability of perpetrators and to support the survivors, in particular through the following measures.
First, we will bolster accountability efforts. Since 2014, Japan has provided financial support to the work of the Team of Experts on Rule of Law and Sexual Violence in Conflict under the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict. The team has conducted their work in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the Central African Republic, Somalia and Iraq to support investigation and prosecution, legislative reform and capacity building of judicial and security authorities. In the DRC, such efforts led to prosecution of the leader of an armed group, following a mobile court hearing in January 2021.
Second, we will provide support to the survivors through multilateral framework. Japan became a Board member to the Global Fund for Survivors of Conflict-Related Sexual Violence in 2020 and is going to contribute 2 million euros, in addition to 4 million euros to date, to ensure access to reparations and redress for the survivors. Since 2014, Japan has supported the Trust Fund for Victims of the International Criminal Court and has earmarked most of its contribution to support survivors of sexual and gender-based violence.
Lastly, we will engage in global advocacy for enhanced international cooperation to realize access to justice, remedies and assistance for all survivors of sexual violence in conflict, post-conflict and other fragile settings, including post-disaster and post-pandemic situations. Seriously concerned by a growing number of alarming reports of sexual violence, Japan calls on all Member States to take effective action to protect and respond to the needs of survivors of sexual violence.
Japan remains fully committed to work with the United Nations and other partners to tackle the issue of conflict-related sexual violence globally.
Before I conclude, please allow me to the reply to the inadequate statement made by one of the Council Members. I think we should be humble and honest in squarely facing what was done in the past, as well as is being done now. On the issue raised, I will not repeat Japan’s position as it has been explained on countless occasions. I would just like to reiterate that Japan has unwaveringly made significant contributions to the universal values of the international community since the end of the Second World War, upholding and improving the situations of human rights. I trust that most member states concur on this.
Thank you very much.