「子どもとSDGsフレンズグループ」会合における中川公使ステートメント

Thank you, Chairs.
 
The international community is facing a number of multifaceted threats to human security, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, and a food crisis and surge in energy prices due to Russia's aggression against Ukraine. In the midst of these ongoing crises, children are the most affected in every aspect of their lives, including education, health, nutrition, water, sanitation, and gender equality.
 
As stated by Prime Minister Kishida in his address to the General Assembly in September, we need to promote efforts based on the concept of human security in the new era so as to achieve the SDGs and realize a society in which no one is left behind.
 
In this regard, Japan considers the following two points are important:
 
First, Japan gives the utmost priority to enhancing and supporting health care with a view to realizing Universal Health Coverage (UHC). This includes the fair allocation of vaccines, the promotion of "last one mile support" including cold chain provision and the strengthening of health systems.
 
Second, Japan will promote the realization of a green society, a digital transformation, and an effective response to climate change. We will also take a leading role in the international community's efforts to realize a global carbon-free society.
 
Next year, Japan will host the G7 summit in Hiroshima, Japan. Taking advantage of this opportunity, Japan will provide the way to solve the issues the global community faces, including the achievement of the SDGs. In this connection, Japan wishes to work with UNICEF toward the G7 summit, as well as the SDGs Summit next year. In this respect, Japan has recently decided to contribute a total of 106 million US dollars to UNICEF through our supplementary budget, as Japan considers its work with UNICEF to be essential for realizing human security in the new era.
 
I thank you.