Statement by H. E. Mr. Hiroshi Minami

Deputy Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations 

2016 Annual Session of the UNDP/UNFPA/UNOPS Executive Board

6 June 2016

 

 

Mr. President, Executive Director, Ladies and Gentlemen,

 

          At the outset, I would like to express my sincere appreciation to the Executive Director for delivering their comprehensive, informative and substantive statements. I also cordially welcome the Annual Report of UNFPA and the Midterm Review.

 

          I acknowledge that UNFPA has been working diligently in accordance with the UNFPA Strategic Plan 2014-2017. I welcome that many targets have been satisfactorily achieved, which shows significant progress. I also welcome the adjustments, including the addition of indicators for resilience. I look forward to UNFPA’s continued effective activities through adequate allocation of its budget and human resources.

 

          However, I must express my concern over the decline in contributions to UNFPA, especially toward its core budget mainly as a result of fluctuations in foreign exchange rates, and the negative impact on some of UNFPA’s activities. I acknowledge that UNFPA has been making efforts to enhance its resource mobilization, including new activities to strengthen partnership with the private sector based on its resource mobilization strategy. I strongly expect UNFPA to continue to explore new and innovative ways to perform its role and to meet the expectations of the communities it works with.

 

          On the other hand, contributions to UNFPA for its humanitarian activities have increased almost three-fold over the last five years. I welcome the expanded recognition of UNFPA’s role in humanitarian crises. I would expect UNFPA to enhance such activities by maximizing its relative strengths, especially in the area of supporting access to sexual and reproductive health services through and after a humanitarian crisis.

 

 

 

Mr. President,

 

          The discussion on UNFPA’s next Strategic Plan 2018-2021 will be started soon. It is necessary that UNFPA be highly engaged in the discussions with member states in order to stay abreast of the MTR as well as changing situations on the ground, and to implement a new Strategic Plan which enables UNFPA to steadily implement its vital activities while simultaneously maximizing its relative strengths. Japan assures that it will actively and positively engage in these discussions.

 

          Finally, I would like to recall that Japan just hosted the G7 Ise Shima Summit last month. I would like to thank Executive Director for mentioning G7 Summit. At the Summit, the participating countries recognized the importance of global health issues, including sexual and reproductive health and rights, as well as the promotion of the implementation of the SDGs. Preceding the Summit, the Global Conference of Parliamentarians in Population and Development was held in April, also in Japan, and nearly 140 parliamentarians from some 70 countries and regions participated. With the help of the Executive Director of UNFPA, who was in attendance, the Conference succeeded in announcing the International Community’s strong and continuous commitment to population and development issues, including those involving women, youth and the elderly. We highly appreciate the cooperation of UNFPA.

 

          In closing, I would like to affirm that Japan will continue to make extensive efforts to promote global health and gender issues in close cooperation with UNFPA.

 

Thank You