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Statement by Mr. Naoto Hisajima
Minister, Permanent Mission of Japan to the United Nations
on
item108: Crime prevention and criminal justice
item109: International drug control
Third Committee
68th Session of the United Nations General Assembly
New York
9 October 2013
Mr. Chairman,
The rule of law is essential to realize a peaceful and stable society and crime prevention and criminal justice forms the basis of the rule of law. Achieving a society in which everyone can live with a sense of safety is not only the security agenda but also one of the important agendas for economic and social development.
In order to respond to the increasing prevalence of transnational crimes, the promotion of international cooperation is essential. In this regard, Japan, as a member of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice since its establishment in 1992, has been actively participating in policy-making of the United Nations in the area of crime prevention and criminal justice. The Government of Japan puts sincere efforts to conclude, at the earliest possible timing, the relevant international instruments including the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crimes, the United Nations Convention against Corruption, the Protocol against Trafficking in Persons and the Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants.
Japan has also been enhancing its close cooperation with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in the area of crime prevention and criminal justice. The Government of Japan and UNODC held the first Strategic Policy Dialogue in June this year and confirmed that Japan and UNODC would cooperate particularly in the areas of countering terrorism and international organized crimes, including cybercrime and promotion of human security in regions, such as Africa, South-East Asia, and Afghanistan and its surrounding countries. Japan has continuously made financial contributions to UNODC and hopes that UNODC will continue to maintain transparency and accountability of its activities.
Furthermore, Japan has been providing many countries, particularly in South East Asia, with a variety of training courses for capacity building through the United Nations Asia and Far East Institute for the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders (UNAFEI) for as long as 50 years since its establishment. Japan continues to support its activities and will work toward further development of the world’s criminal justice in close cooperation with UNAFEI.
Mr. Chairman,
Allow me to draw your attention to respective areas.
Combating trafficking in persons is one of the most important policy agendas for the Government of Japan. The Global Report on Trafficking in Persons 2012 by UNODC shows that the main targets of trafficking in persons are women and children. As our Prime Minister, Mr. Shinzo Abe mentioned at the general debate this September, the Government of Japan believes that creating “a society in which women shine” is a common goal of international society. Based on this understanding, the Government of Japan is working on the four P’s in combating trafficking in persons, namely: prevention, prosecution, protection and partnership, and continues to support a range of technical assistance projects particularly in South East Asia.
With regard to the drug issues, while the abuse of narcotic drugs remains a serious problem, the abuse of New Psychoactive Substances, NPS and Amphetamine-type stimulants, ATS, is recently becoming an acute threat all over the world. Addressing the abuse of NPS and ATS has become a particularly urgent issue domestically in Japan as well. It is, therefore, important to strengthen the control of precursor chemicals as vital ingredients in manufacture of these narcotics, as well as to combat illicit drug trafficking and prevent drug abuse. The Government of Japan has been advancing countermeasures against narcotic drugs, especially in Afghanistan and Asia, such as Myanmar, through financial contribution to UNODC and Japan’s ODA.
As to cybercrime, the Government of Japan attaches a great value to advancing international cooperation based on existing international frameworks, such as the Convention on Cybercrime or so-called the Budapest Convention. In addition, technical assistance to enhance criminal justice capacity to fight against cybercrime is of particular importance. In this regard, the Government of Japan hosted “Workshop on Effective International Cooperation in the area of Cybercrime Investigation and Prosecution” for Asian and Pacific countries in Tokyo in May.
Mr. Chairman,
In conclusion, Japan is committed to continuing its efforts to prevent and effectively respond to crimes both at the international and domestic levels, in close cooperation with Member States, the UNODC and other relevant stakeholders.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
