Happy New Year 2018
It was a clear morning weather when the first day of the New Year arrived in the central part of Germany where my daughter and her family live. We wish you a happy new year 2018.
1. Journal
Japan suggests the Security Council reform along with UN Reform proposals presented by Secretary-General António Guterres (20/12/2017)
Japanese Ambassador Koro Bessho urged that complex contemporary challenges to international peace and security should be dealt with in a holistic and methodological manner to better address the situation on the ground and presented four ideas which included reform of the UN Security Council.
President of International Crisis Group Jean-Marie Guéhenno shares his views on the changing nature of conflict in conversation with Sebastian von Einsiedel, Director of the UNU Centre for Policy Research. (14/12/2017)
Former Under-Secretary-General for UN Department for Peacekeeping Operations Jean-Marie Guéhenno finds conflicts multilayers and “never dying” reflecting the erosion of international norms and a widening political divide.
Visit of UN Secretary-General António Guterres (14/12/2017)
U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres met with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and spoke to students at Sophia University about the increasing relevance of the human security concept in dealing with vexing challenges particularly the nuclear threat, mass movement of people, climate change, and increased inequality.
Japan supports UN management reform proposed by Secretary-General António Guterres but insists on strict budgetary discipline (04/12/2017)
Japanese Ambassador Toshiya Hoshino suggested the need to create a consensus to build up a solid basis upon which the Secretary-General can bring forward detailed UN reform proposals in May 2018.
Kitamura School Children meet at the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Mihashi (03/12/2017)
Six former students of Professor Takao Kitamura held a reunion and heard Mr. Mihashi`s life story including his executive business trips abroad for famous Isetan Department Store. Click here for a Japanese text.
Professor Kihara-Hunt Ai of Tokyo University and four graduate students of Tokyo University review the transitional justice processes of Timor-Leste (29/11/2017)
Graduate students from Afghanistan, Australia, Japan and Nepal assess the purposes and significance of CAVR, Serious Crimes Process, Commission of Experts, Truth and Friendship Commission and Commission of Inquiry with former Special Representative of the Secretary-General Sukehiro Hasegawa for Timor-Leste. This report is filed by Ms. Hanna Miura.
Japan’s 25th Anniversary of the Enactment of International Peace Cooperation Law congratulated by Ambassadors of Cambodia, Mozambique, Timor-Leste, Haiti and South Sudan as well as former SRSGs Akashi and Hasegawa. (20/11/2017)
In a Video Message, Former Special Representative of the Secretary-General Sukehiro Hasegawa Explains How Japan Engineering Group of the Japanese Defense Forces contributed to infrastructure rehabilitation in Timor-Leste.
Celebration of Life: In memory of Former Executive Coordinator Ad de Raad (18/11/2017)
Mr. Ad de Raad, a modest, charismatic and caring leader, introduced profound changes within the UN system enhancing the relevance of volunteerism to peace and development worldwide.
JAUNS President Takahiro Shinyo chairs ACUNS session at the trilateral meeting of academic communities of China, Japan and Korea on UN System (12/11/2017)
Participants discussed measures to enhance the collaborative relationship between ACUNS and East Asian countries including the possibility of the ACUNS Liaison Office to facilitate the participation of East Asian scholars and practitioners in ACUNS` Annual Meetings.
UN and UNV Recruitment policy and procedure explained by New York and Bonn Human Resources Officers for engagement in UN peace and development operations (05/11/2017)
Anthony Duncker, Deputy Director of the Field Personnel Division (FPD) UN Headquarters New York and Naoual Driouich, Chief of Human Resources Section of UN Volunteers (UNV) Boon made detailed explanations to about 40 Japanese who are interested in joining the UN system.
Professor Ai Kihara-Hunt: “Militarization of the UN Police is undermining its very strength of proximity with the community” (04/11/2017)
At the conference of the Japan Association for Human Security Studies held in Kyoto, Japan, ACUNS Tokyo Liaison Office Deputy Director, Prof. Ai Kihara-Hunt of the University of Tokyo, presented her findings on the militarization of UN Police personnel and the rise of Protection of Civilians mandates in UN peace operations.
Secretary-General António Guterres` report on restructuring of the United Nations peace and security pillar submitted to the General Assembly (22/10/2017)
The SG proposes to make the peace and security pillar more coherent, nimble and effective through a “whole-of-pillar” approach by aligning the peace and security pillar more closely with the development and human rights pillars.
UNITAR holds a seminar on “Breaking the Vicious Cycle of Conflict: Which Future for G5 Sahel?” in Geneva (20/10/2017)
Ken Inoue, one of UNITAR Advisory Board members, reports on UNITAR`s pre-deployment training program for military personnel and formed police units assigned to UN Peacekeeping operations.
Security Council adopted on 20/09/2017 resolution affirming the primary of politics as the hallmark of the UN’s approach to peace. (20/10/2017)
Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono voted for the resolution as it would be a powerful engine to advance the UN reform efforts and explained the importance of capacity building of UN peacekeepers.
UNU Women’s Association reviews the changing nature of UN Peace Operations (10/10/2017)
Well planned and organized seminar is attended by 30-40 participants who asked about the changing roles of Japan in UN peace operations.
Ágio Pereira appointed Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Maritime Boundary Negotiation (04/10/2017)
Minister Pereira`s appointment signifies PM Alkatiri and CNRT Leader Xanana Gusmao`s willingness to make a prudent approach in addressing Timor-Leste needs: peace, stability and accountable governance.
Mari Alkatiri becomes again the Prime Minister of Timor-Leste (01/10/2017)
Hasegawa expresses his hope that Prime Minister Alkatiri can succeed in not only governing the country peacefully but also transforming it into a self-reliant country without corruption.
Seoul Meridian 180 Meeting Examines the Peacekeeping as a Response to Human Security Threats held at Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Korea (28/09/2017)
Hasegawa presents Kibeho tragedy or massacre as an unintended consequence of the protection of civilians in theory and practice.
Peace mission leadership competencies discussed at the International Association of Peacekeeping Training Centers (IAPTC) meeting held on November 13 in Cairo, Egypt. (27/09/2017)
Japanese Government Officials and Professor Hasegawa participate in the conference along with 250 specialists in PKO training from all over the world.