第60回社会開発委員会における木村大使ステートメント
令和4年2月11日
Madam Chair,
I would like to start by thanking the Chair, other bureau members, and the secretariat for organizing this session.
Two years have passed since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. As the recent UNDP special report on human security, entitled “New threats to Human Security in the Anthropocene” clearly depicts, this crisis threatens our livelihoods, well-being, and dignity, and disproportionally impacts vulnerable members of our society.
I believe that this session provides us with an apt opportunity to exchange ideas for inclusive and resilient recovery from COVID-19, and, moreover, to develop long-term policy frameworks to reduce poverty, hunger, and inequalities as an important path towards realizing the SDGs.
Madam Chair,
Human security holds the key to tackling the crisis of COVID-19 and other challenges through people-centered, comprehensive, context-specific and prevention-oriented responses.
To begin with, we must save as many lives as possible and leave no one's health behind, which is why universal health coverage (UHC) is important. In the same vein, equitable access to vaccines is also required to overcome this crisis. Japan will continue to provide comprehensive support for each phase of vaccination. Thus far, Japan co-hosted the COVAX AMC Summit last June and secured funds of USD 9.6 billion, including USD 1 billion from Japan, to provide over 1.8 billion vaccine doses for developing countries. In addition to financial contribution, over 40 million doses of vaccines have been provided by Japan to date, including through the COVAX Facility. “Last One Mile Support”, which provides cold chain equipment essential for the delivery of vaccines to vaccination sites, is another priority in Japan's assistance.
The human security crisis of COVID-19 has also made the fight to eradicate poverty and hunger more urgent. Financing for development conducive to achieving sustainable growth is of utmost importance. In this context, I highlight the Japan International Cooperation Agency, JICA's recent efforts to address the issue with new financial resources, which includes issuance of a series of social bonds, such as COVID-19 response bonds and gender bonds. Also, as stated in the SG’s report on inclusive and resilient recovery from COVID-19, sustainable poverty eradication cannot be achieved without addressing threats to food security. To this end, Japan hosted the Tokyo Nutrition for Growth Summit 2021 last December, where over 390 commitments from 181 stakeholders were submitted, and financial commitments of over USD 27 billion, including USD 2.8 billion of nutrition-related assistance from Japan, were announced. Furthermore, the Tokyo Compact was issued with the endorsement of 215 stakeholders, indicating a direction for the international society to improve nutrition.
Madam Chair,
Human security requires the protection and empowerment of individuals, in particular those in the most vulnerable situations, including persons with disabilities, the elderly, and children.
The Tokyo Paralympic Games in 2021 served as an excellent opportunity to promote the barrier-free mindset towards an inclusive society. Coupled with this event, our government adopted the Action Plan for Universal Design 2020, aimed at addressing social barriers for persons with disabilities through measures such as urban development based on universal design. In addition, the legal framework for persons with disabilities has ameliorated through the amendment of the Act for Eliminating Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities and the Barrier-Free Act.
Rapid aging is another major issue for Japan. In order to respond to the emerging needs, the Guideline of Measures for Ageing Society was revised in 2018. This guideline covers various fields, such as employment, pension, long-term care, and technological innovation. Japan proactively shares its experiences and knowledge with the world through international conferences and symposiums, and by exchanging memorandums of cooperation with other countries.
At the same time, children and youth, the key to the success of our future, must not be marginalized. In order to realize a society centered on children, our government decided to establish a new agency for children and families in fiscal 2023. By integrating child-related operations of the government, this agency aims to better deal with increasingly complex issues such as child poverty and abuse, and developing policies from the standpoint of children.
Madam Chair,
The pandemic has revealed the interlinked nature of the threats, and thus the new UNDP report on human security proposes adding solidarity to the human security strategies of protection and empowerment. The Our Common Agenda report also stresses the value of trust and solidarity and the need for a renewed social contract. We should renew the discussion on human security as an overarching concept to address the multi-faceted crises we are facing.
Japan looks forward to deepening the discussion among Member States through this important session, and thus responding to current and future challenges for the advancement of the well-being of all.
I would like to start by thanking the Chair, other bureau members, and the secretariat for organizing this session.
Two years have passed since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. As the recent UNDP special report on human security, entitled “New threats to Human Security in the Anthropocene” clearly depicts, this crisis threatens our livelihoods, well-being, and dignity, and disproportionally impacts vulnerable members of our society.
I believe that this session provides us with an apt opportunity to exchange ideas for inclusive and resilient recovery from COVID-19, and, moreover, to develop long-term policy frameworks to reduce poverty, hunger, and inequalities as an important path towards realizing the SDGs.
Madam Chair,
Human security holds the key to tackling the crisis of COVID-19 and other challenges through people-centered, comprehensive, context-specific and prevention-oriented responses.
To begin with, we must save as many lives as possible and leave no one's health behind, which is why universal health coverage (UHC) is important. In the same vein, equitable access to vaccines is also required to overcome this crisis. Japan will continue to provide comprehensive support for each phase of vaccination. Thus far, Japan co-hosted the COVAX AMC Summit last June and secured funds of USD 9.6 billion, including USD 1 billion from Japan, to provide over 1.8 billion vaccine doses for developing countries. In addition to financial contribution, over 40 million doses of vaccines have been provided by Japan to date, including through the COVAX Facility. “Last One Mile Support”, which provides cold chain equipment essential for the delivery of vaccines to vaccination sites, is another priority in Japan's assistance.
The human security crisis of COVID-19 has also made the fight to eradicate poverty and hunger more urgent. Financing for development conducive to achieving sustainable growth is of utmost importance. In this context, I highlight the Japan International Cooperation Agency, JICA's recent efforts to address the issue with new financial resources, which includes issuance of a series of social bonds, such as COVID-19 response bonds and gender bonds. Also, as stated in the SG’s report on inclusive and resilient recovery from COVID-19, sustainable poverty eradication cannot be achieved without addressing threats to food security. To this end, Japan hosted the Tokyo Nutrition for Growth Summit 2021 last December, where over 390 commitments from 181 stakeholders were submitted, and financial commitments of over USD 27 billion, including USD 2.8 billion of nutrition-related assistance from Japan, were announced. Furthermore, the Tokyo Compact was issued with the endorsement of 215 stakeholders, indicating a direction for the international society to improve nutrition.
Madam Chair,
Human security requires the protection and empowerment of individuals, in particular those in the most vulnerable situations, including persons with disabilities, the elderly, and children.
The Tokyo Paralympic Games in 2021 served as an excellent opportunity to promote the barrier-free mindset towards an inclusive society. Coupled with this event, our government adopted the Action Plan for Universal Design 2020, aimed at addressing social barriers for persons with disabilities through measures such as urban development based on universal design. In addition, the legal framework for persons with disabilities has ameliorated through the amendment of the Act for Eliminating Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities and the Barrier-Free Act.
Rapid aging is another major issue for Japan. In order to respond to the emerging needs, the Guideline of Measures for Ageing Society was revised in 2018. This guideline covers various fields, such as employment, pension, long-term care, and technological innovation. Japan proactively shares its experiences and knowledge with the world through international conferences and symposiums, and by exchanging memorandums of cooperation with other countries.
At the same time, children and youth, the key to the success of our future, must not be marginalized. In order to realize a society centered on children, our government decided to establish a new agency for children and families in fiscal 2023. By integrating child-related operations of the government, this agency aims to better deal with increasingly complex issues such as child poverty and abuse, and developing policies from the standpoint of children.
Madam Chair,
The pandemic has revealed the interlinked nature of the threats, and thus the new UNDP report on human security proposes adding solidarity to the human security strategies of protection and empowerment. The Our Common Agenda report also stresses the value of trust and solidarity and the need for a renewed social contract. We should renew the discussion on human security as an overarching concept to address the multi-faceted crises we are facing.
Japan looks forward to deepening the discussion among Member States through this important session, and thus responding to current and future challenges for the advancement of the well-being of all.