On October 3rd, Mr. Sukehiro Hasegawa, former Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General, delivered a lecture in the “Environment and Development” course at Soka University. Drawing on his extensive practical experience gained in missions such as the East Timor PKO, he first presented the importance of work-life balance as a personal lesson: “know yourself” and share joys and sorrows with family.
He then analyzed the current situation where progress on the SDGs is stalled or even regressing due to complex crises. He urged that a paradigm shift towards “human security” – protecting the dignity of every individual, not just national security – is urgently needed. Regarding the stalled UN Security Council reform, he proposed a realistic solution: expanding the framework for re-electable medium-to-long-term terms, rather than insisting on permanent membership.
Finally, he concluded his lecture by expressing strong expectations for the students to actively participate in international discussions and activities as “global citizens” who embrace diverse cultures.
(Reported by Rinka WATANABE)