(as delivered)
Statement by Dr. Yasue Nunoshiba
Special Advisor of the Government of Japan
Item 64(a, b): Right of the Child
71st Session of the Third Committee
of the United Nations General Assembly
14 October 2016
Madame Chair,
One of the most important missions of international society is to create a world where children can grow without any fear or threat. We must support their growth since children are our future.
My country has been engaged in measures to create a better society for children. In my statement today, I would like to focus on the following three points: education, armed conflict and poverty.
Madame Chair,
Education is essential for children. It empowers them and enables them to live their future lives with dignity. Sadly, great numbers of children around the world today have little or no access to proper schooling, be it for economic, cultural or security reasons.
Since we put great emphasis on international cooperation in the field of education, Japan announced its “Learning Strategy for Peace and Growth” in September 2015. Recognizing the importance of gender equality in educational opportunity, Japan is focusing particularly on providing education for girls.
For instance, we assisted in building girls’ middle schools in Tanzania, where early marriage and pregnancy prevent them from completing their education. Japan also provided assistance toward establishing girls’ dormitories for middle and high schools in Nepal and Malawi. We hope that this project improves the middle and high school completion rate of female students.
Madame Chair,
Conflict deprives children of precious time and environments for a healthy development, and traumatizes them in various ways. I welcome the progress made by the Office of the SRSG for Children and Armed Conflict, such as the release of more than 115,000 child soldiers from militaries or armed groups. Still, this challenge of child soldiers further requires international society’s tireless effort.
Japan funds the program through UNICEF that supports the release and reintegration of children from armed groups in African countries. Altogether, we have contributed 6 million dollars over the past three years for the reintegration of child soldiers and the protection and empowerment of children in armed conflict throughout Africa, the Middle East and Asia. We are committed to continuing to provide such support.
Madame Chair,
The issue of child poverty has become a social issue in my country in recent years. In Japan, children suffer from relative poverty which is the condition of living on less than half of the average income of society. In order to respond to this issue, the government instituted a policy outline to combat child poverty in August 2014. This includes educational support, job assistance for guardians and continued research into child poverty.
We provide sufficient administrative services to every family in need, specified for their circumstances, especially for families in particularly difficult situations, such as single parent households and families with many children. Furthermore, recognizing the importance of independence through stable employment, the government is implementing comprehensive support such as employment and childcare assistance.
Madame Chair,
Japan values the Convention on the Rights of the Child as the foundation for the international promotion and protection of the rights of children. I am delighted to confirm that Ms. Mikiko Otani, who, like me, once served as Special Advisor of the Government of Japan to the Third Committee, will be a new member of the Committee of the Rights of the Child starting from next year. Last but not least, my country will spare no effort for the promotion of children’s rights by further enhancing our cooperation with other states and civil society.
I thank you.
