(As Delivered)
Statement by H.E. Mr. Jun Yamazaki,
Ambassador, Permanent Mission of Japan to the United Nations
UNDP/UNFPA/UNOPS Executive Board, Second regular session 2013
UNFPA Segment
Item7: UNFPA Strategic plan 2014-2017
10 September 2013
Mr. President,
At the outset, I would like to thank Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin for his comprehensive statement, and I would also like to express my appreciation for his presentation of the draft UNFPA Strategic Plan 2014-2017.
As announced at the High-level Plenary Meeting of the 65th Session of the UN General Assembly on MDGs in September 2010, my country committed to contributing USD 5 billion over five years starting from 2011 to address development issues in the field of health, and we are steadily implementing that commitment. I would like to state that the Government of Japan regards global health issues, including population, as an important area to be covered by our foreign policy and recognizes UNFPA as an indispensable partner for advancing global health policy. There are less than 850 days until the deadline for the accomplishment of the MDGs, and a Special Event towards achieving the MDGs will be organized by the President of the General Assembly on 25 September. Japan will continue to actively engage in efforts to accelerate progress towards the achievement of the MDGs, through ever closer relationships with relevant organizations including UNFPA.
Mr. President,
With regard to the post 2015-development agenda, the respective reports of both the High-level Panel of Eminent Persons on the Post-2015 Development Agenda and the Secretary-General (A/68/202) have been issued, and discussions on the agenda will now begin at a full scale. Japan has been actively contributing to the discussion through such efforts as organizing the Post-2015 Development Agenda Contact Group since 2011. My Government hopes to contribute the many valuable lessons and knowledge accumulated from this process in formulating the post-2015 development agenda.
Mr. President,
As of October 2011, the world population exceeded 7 billion people. This number is expected to exceed 9 billion in 2050. Given such a projection, the issue of global population will continue to increase in importance. The steady implementation of the Cairo Declaration adopted at the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) in 1994 continues to be important. We acknowledge the central role played by UNFPA for the preparation for ICPD Beyond 2014. My delegation places great importance on the issue of global health including population, as a global issue that directly ties into human security. We therefore follow the ICPD process with great interest. Japan stands ready to actively participate in discussions on population such as through participation in the bureau of the 47th session of the Commission on Population and Development (CPD).
Mr. President,
Japan highly appreciates UNFPA’s efforts in elaborating the final draft of the Strategic Plan 2014-2017. We especially appreciate the efforts of the Executive Director, Dr. Osotimehin, to promote accountability by engaging himself in numerous opportunities for exchange of views with the Member States.
In the final draft, UNFPA presents the so-called ‘bull’s eye’ as a new strategic direction, which focuses on the unfinished aspects of UNFPA’s mandate such as family planning, maternal health (MDG-5) and HIV/AIDS. The draft also incorporates Result-Based Management (RBM) framework and Integrated Result Framework (IRF) based on the recommendations from the quadrennial comprehensive policy review (QCPR), as well as greater coordination within the United Nations system, as was highlighted at the previous session. My delegation looks forward to UNFPA’s continued progress in its efforts to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of its work.
Though we understand that the improvement of maternal health (MDG-5) is a diverse and complex issue, MDG-5-related goals are making the least progress. In this regard, UNFPA and the international community need to accelerate and improve their efforts to achieve the MDG-5 targets by the 2015 deadline.
The final draft of the Strategic plan makes direct reference to several matters on which my delegation places great emphasis, including human security and universal health coverage.
Given the above, the Government of Japan supports the final draft of the UNFPA Strategic Plan 2014-2017.
Mr. President,
I wish to conclude my statement by saying that we expect UNFPA to continue its work focusing on its mandate. We would also expect that it would do so by pursuing its work in an efficient, effective and transparent manner. We look forward to the results delivered through such efforts.
Thank you.
