2022年移住政策に関する国際フォーラム（IDM）における中川公使ステートメント（COVID-19に関するパネル）
令和4年3月1日
(As delivered)
Thank you, Dr. Meghan Benton, Director of Research for the MPI International Program, for giving me the floor and moderating the Panel. I’m also grateful to the prominent speakers of the panel for your insightful inputs on the challenges of inequalities in human mobility affecting migrants.
Indeed, human mobility around the world continues to be greatly impacted by the spread of COVID-19. This situation reminds us of the importance of the principle of "leaving no one's health behind”. Japan is strongly committed to realizing this principle by promoting universal health coverage and attaches great significance to ensuring equitable access to safe, effective, and quality-assured vaccines, including in developing countries. From the human security perspective, we should reaffirm that all individuals, and in particular the vulnerable, such as migrants and displaced people, are entitled to freedom from fear and freedom from want, and to equal opportunity to enjoy all their rights and fully develop their human potential.
From this perspective, Japan has announced a contribution of 1 billion US dollars to the COVAX Facility, in addition to the in-kind support of 40 million doses of vaccine. Meanwhile, an integrated vaccine system, from transportation to administration, is necessary to further promote vaccination on the ground. In this regard, as Japan has been steadily providing "Last One Mile Support" including the development of cold chain systems, Japan also expects to see IOM leverage its rich experience in this area to play an increasingly important role in responding to the current and future pandemics.
Japan believes that the UN system, especially IOM and WHO, are the primary players for deepening international cooperation for action addressing inequalities for the future of human mobility. Japan continues to be an active partner in this endeavor.
I thank you.