Statement by H.E. Mr. Hiroshi Minami
Deputy Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations
At the First Regular Session of the Executive Board of UN-Women
14 February 2017

 

 

Thank you, Madam Vice-President,

 

 

          At the outset, I would like to congratulate you and other members on the assumption of the Bureau of UN-Women this year. I would like to also express my gratitude to Ms. Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Executive Director of UN-Women, for her insightful statement.

 

 

          The year 2017 is an important and challenging year for UN-Women, as well as for gender equality and women’s empowerment generally.

          For one thing, the new Secretary-General has just acceded to his office.

          We welcome that the Secretary-General Guterres clearly stated in his remarks at swearing-in ceremony that the protection and empowerment of women and girls is paramount.  We should continue to encourage him to keep gender issues at the center of his priority agenda.

 

 

          Also, discussions begin this year for UN-Women’s new Strategic Plan. In this regard, the fundamental principles derived from the SDGs should serve as our guide.  Particular consideration must be given to the plan’s alignment with the QCPR.

 

 

          2017 is also the deadline to meet the requirements of the UN System-Wide Action Plan (UNSWAP).

          As Member States recognized that much remained to be done in terms of progress of UNSWAP’s achievement as of last year, I request UN-Women to work diligently to meet all its requirements by the end of this year.

 

 

Madam Vice-President,

 

  

          We appreciate the report of the UN-Women Independent Evaluation Office (IEO) for its frank and constructive observations and recommendations.  

          We believe that they encompass many valuable ideas, which will help UN-Women to improve its structure.

         

          Re-engineering UN-Women’s regional structure will be a key element in implementing its fundamental mandates.

          We would like to encourage UN-Women’s management to take the IEO’s observations and recommendations into serious consideration, and to respond swiftly with concrete actions, including reflecting them in the next Strategic Plan.

 

          Having said that, allow me to offer a couple of suggestions on the issue of regional structure reform.

          First, we want UN-Women to make clear the typology of its regional presence and respective roles, to prioritize them as per its global strategy and to distribute its resources in an appropriate manner.

 

 

          Second, as indicated in the report of the IEO, we want to hear more about UN-Women’s ideas on how to overcome limitations to the activities of its “Program presence offices”.

          Japan cherishes its cooperative relationship with UN-Women in the field of women’s leadership, empowerment, access and protection (LEAP).

          We consider it important to enhance the effectiveness of its programs in conflict affected countries.

 

 

          Third, toward greater efficiency and effectiveness, it is important to eliminate duplicate activities.  In this regard, close communication is of fundamental significance, not only between HQ and local offices, but also among local offices.

 

 

 Madam Vice-President,

 

 

          Japan encourages UN-Women’s ongoing organizational reform. However, we share the concern that the existing funding gap might set back these efforts.  In this connection, the Japan has just approved to fund seven projects in the Middle East, Africa and South-East Asia in the amount of over 16 million USD.

   

          As for our contribution to core funding, the Government of Japan has submitted its proposal to the Diet, requesting an increase from last year. If approved by the Diet, our combined core and non-core contributions this year will reach more than 21 million USD.

 

 

          We call on the other Member States to share the common concern for the difficult financial situation of UN-Women, and encourage them to support UN-Women’s fund-raising efforts.

 

 

Madam President,

 

 

          Around the world we see protracted conflicts, an increasing number of refugees, and the rise of violent extremism.  We also recognize that women and girls are always among the first victims on the ground.  UN-Women is a central actor in the protection and promotion of women’s rights.

          Japan will take a leading role in championing women’s agenda this year, and looks forward to working with UN-Women and the Member States in this regard.

 

 

Thank you, Madam Vice-President.