Statement by H. E. Mr. Hiroshi Minami
Deputy Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations

At the 2017 First Regular Session
Of the UNDP/UNFPA/UNOPS Executive Board
1 February 2017

 

 

Mr. President,

Executive Director,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

 

          At the outset, I would like to express my sincere appreciation to the Executive Director for delivering his comprehensive, informative and substantive statement. My delegation would like to extend its gratitude to Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin for the participation at World Assembly on Women of last December which Executive Director referred to.

 

          I would like to take this moment to fully acknowledge the very severe financial and political situation of UNFPA. We also understand that UNFPA needs strong political support from Member States.

 

          Japan has been committed to promoting SRHR on several occasions, including at the Sendai Conference, the G7 Ise-Shima Summit and World Assembly on Women all held in Japan. In addition, from a financial perspective, the Japanese Government has just decided to contribute over 30 Million USD to UNFPA in 2017, including about 20 Million USD as core resources on condition of Diet approval. We strongly support the mandate of UNFPA.

 

          Japan hopes that more countries will allocate sufficient resources to UNFPA as well as to their own national programmes in SRHR, gender equality and women’s empowerment and the incorporation of population dynamics into development efforts for the benefit of their own populations, as an increasing number of programme countries enter into middle and higher income status.

Mr. President,

 

          Japan would like to ask Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin to accommodate not only the GA resolution on the QCPR, but also the SG report on the same matter to be issued in June into the new Strategic Plan. In addition, Japan looks forward to Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin’s leadership in collaborating with other UN agencies to implement “Delivering as One” under the guidance of the new SG and DSG. 

 

          Japan recognizes UNFPA’s effort to shift its cooperation modality from the delivery of goods and services toward technical and intellectual support for policy making, including SRHR and Gender Equality, recalling the principle of universality of the 2030 Agenda. Furthermore, Japan encourages UNFPA to develop further capacity for leadership in emerging population issues such as ageing and low fertility.

 

Mr. President,

 

          Last but not least, Japan would like to express our concern regarding global trends toward shrinking democratic space, intolerance, conservatism and violent extremism, with a particularly negative impact on the rights of women and girls. Japan would like to remind countries of their commitment under the ICPD Programme of Action to uphold these rights and Japan also hopes that UNFPA can play an active role in supporting this.

 

I thank you.