Mr. Masaharu NAKAGAWA, a member of the House of Representatives and Secretary General of the Parliamentary Committee for of the National Diet of Japan for the World Federation, underscored the crucial role of predictable funds in delivering development assistance. He acknowledged the challenges Japan faces due to the yen’s depreciation, which makes future contributions uncertain. However, he reassured that the Diet members are fully aware of the necessity of stable funds for effective development assistance.
Concerning the role of the UN in countries in conflict, from our point of view, the Japanese Diet members feel that the UN is not fulfilling its role of preventing conflicts in advance, creating a society where conflicts do not occur, or building peace when conflicts do occur and that the Security Council is not playing its part or is unable to fulfill such a function. The world is in a situation where these functions are not being exercised or cannot be exercised, with the Security Council playing a central role. That is why we are in a situation where the UN Development Programme has to create the kind of structure that links humanitarian assistance to development. In conclusion, Mr. Nakagawa expressed his belief that it is important to discuss how the UN`s functions should be brought toward peacebuilding through the various UN bodies; in other words, to discuss and implement UN reform. (25/6/2024)
Mr. Takanori ARIMA, Director of the International Cooperation Bureau of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said that the United Nations Development Programme is a core institution of the UN development system and an organization at the forefront of the development field around the world. As Associate Administrator Haoliang Xu mentioned, Japan is in the midst of a very difficult situation to make financial contributions to international organizations because of the weak yen. However, from the perspective of securing the financial foundation of the United Nations Development Programme, it is the intention of the Government of Japan to continue to work together, exchange views, and hold discussions with UNDP, including the introduction of private funds, as mentioned earlier in this meeting. (25/6/2024)
Ms. Ayaka SHIOMURA, a member of the House of Councilors of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDP), stated that she would like to hear what UNDP Associate Administrator Haoliang Xu thought about Japan’s approach to human rights. She then expressed her opinion that UN recommendations are not legally binding was exacerbating the current situation in Japan. For more information, check the full article.(25/6/2024)
Makoto HAMAGUCHI, a member of the House of Councilors of the People’s Democratic Party of Japan, asked Mr. Haoliang Xu two questions. The first question was about Japan’s CO2 emissions, which amount to 1.1 billion tons annually. He asked how the UNDP evaluates Japan’s efforts to decarbonize and address climate change. He also wanted to know what role the permanent members of the UN Council should play in the future in response to the conflicts that are constantly occurring today. (25/6/2024)
Please let us know about your activities in Sudan and Myanmar, which have been severely damaged by the conflict. What I am most interested in is how we can inform you of these situations. The media coverage in Japan has concentrated on Ukraine and Gaza. Therefore, there is very little coverage on Sudan, Yemen, and Myanmar. Therefore, we believe that the international community needs to know about this situation. This will enable the international community to effectively deliver its support to these areas. We would like your opinion on this matter.
Masaaki TANIAI, a member of the House of Councilors of the Komeito, informed that he was serving as the head of the SDGs Promotion Headquarters within the Komeito Party. He expressed interest in how the post-SDGs will be developed after the 2030 SDGs. He stated that he is often asked if it is too early to start when he talks about the post-SDGs. Still, he believes that Japan needs to ascertain the post-SDGs early and would like to collaborate with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). (25/6/2024)
Mr. Takanori Kawai, a member of the House of Councilors of the People’s Democratic Party of Japan, asked about the recent global warming trend. 2023 has been a prominent year in the last 30 years since 1990, and we would like to ask what he thinks is the cause. (25/6/2024)