第74回国連総会第3委員会　議題67 (a)「先住民の権利」に関する宮崎あかね政府代表顧問によるステートメント

 Thank you, Mr. Chair.
 
First of all, let me express our concern that indigenous languages are disappearing at a rapid rate. Efforts to protect and revitalize indigenous languages are essential, and must be advanced. This year is the “2019 International Year of Indigenous Languages,” and, aligned with the goal of the Year, Japan is committed to cooperate with relevant initiatives.
 
Mr. Chair,
 
Since the adoption of the Declaration of Rights of Indigenous People in 2007, Japan has been making concerted efforts to pay due respect to the Ainu people, the indigenous people of Japan, including through the preservation of their cultures and identities.
 
In June of 2008, the National Diet of Japan adopted the resolutions that recognized the Ainu population as an indigenous people of Japan. Following these resolutions, the Government of Japan released a statement by Chief Cabinet Secretary acknowledging the Ainu people as an indigenous people of Japan and established the Advisory Council for Future Ainu Policy.
 
At the Council, the Government of Japan and representatives of the Ainu people discuss comprehensive and effective measures to address various issues such as education, cultural revitalization and economic development.
 
One of the pillars of Japan’s policies for the Ainu people is the promotion of the Ainu culture. Japan has provided support to various cultural projects such as an educational program on the Ainu language.
 
Mr. Chair,
 
In addition to those policies, the Government of Japan submitted to the National Diet a draft bill in February of this year, which aims to implement a comprehensive package of measures including the promotion of local Ainu communities, industries and national and international exchanges through tourism. This bill was approved and enacted in April of this year.
 
For the first time in national legislation, this legislation recognizes the Ainu people as an indigenous people who have lived around the northern part of the Japanese Archipelago and states its objective as “realizing a society that will respect the pride of the Ainu.” It also provides for subsidies to promote comprehensive measures above and beyond the promotion of the Ainu culture, including the establishment of special allowances for the Ainu people to have access to state-owned forests, and to catch salmon in rivers in order to protect and promote their traditional culture.
 
Furthermore, Japan is now constructing the “Symbolic Space for Ethnic Harmony”, comprising a national Ainu museum and park, as a center for the revitalization of Ainu culture in Hokkaido. The Symbolic Space, called “UPOPOY”, meaning “singing in a large group” in the Ainu language, will be opened to the public on April 24th, 2020, prior to the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games. Japan makes efforts to promote nationwide and international understanding of the history and culture of the Ainu people. As a representative of Japan, I wish to invite the distinguished delegates to visit “UPOPOY” and to see our efforts regarding the indigenous people of Japan.
 
Mr. Chair,
 
Japan is determined to continue to work in close cooperation with the Ainu people to achieve a society where the diversity of all people is respected.
 
I thank you.