Statement by Mr. Hiroshi KIKUCHI, Assistant Vice Minister of Justice on item 8: Follow-up to the 13th UN Crime Congress and Preparations for the 14th UN Crime Congress
2015/6/26
(Introduction)
Thank you, Mr. /Madam Chairperson,
Japan commends the success of the Doha Congress, which was indeed a starting point for the integration of crime prevention and criminal justice into the broader UN agenda, particularly Goal 16 and its targets of the 2030 Agenda.
(Follow-up process)
Under this item, first, let me emphasize the fact that the Japanese Government has been actively implementing the Doha Declaration.
For example, the Asia and Far East Institute for the Prevention of Crime and Treatment of Offenders (UNAFEI), operated by the Ministry of Justice of Japan, holds multi-national seminars and training programmes which focus on, inter alia, the fight against corruption and public participation in the prevention of crime and the treatment of offenders.
Japan also contributed over sixteen million dollars, an unprecedented amount, to the UNODC this February for capacity building projects on countering terrorism and organized crime, which has a growing linkage with financing terrorism in recent years.
These efforts reflect Japan’s strong commitment to following up on the Doha Declaration.
(Preparations for the next Congress)
(Substance-overall theme, agenda and workshops-)
Mr. Chairperson, advance preparation for the next Crime Congress will be important to its success.
Japan reiterates the importance of allocating sufficient time for preparation on substantive matters.
In this context, Japan appreciates that the Member States have approved the resolution proposed by Japan, together with Brazil, Mexico and Qatar, requesting the CCPCJ to approve the overall theme, agenda items, and workshop topics at its 26th session.
Mr. Chairperson, Japan would like to suggest an idea which we believe would be of help when Member States provide comments on the overall theme of the next Congress. Japan believes it would be advisable to maintain the momentum of the Doha Congress, which led to the inclusion of Goal 16 in the 2030 agenda.
For the first time, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development affirms that development requires peaceful and inclusive societies, justice for all, and effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at all levels. Goal 16 specifically ensures that the rule of law, peace and security are integral parts of the framework.
As the Member States deliberate the themes and agenda items for the next Congress, Japan proposes that we give due consideration to achieving Goal 16 and its targets. In this regard, it is also important to take practitioners’ perspectives into account and to take a practical approach. We believe this approach can make the Congress a most useful forum for both policymakers and practitioners.
Japan also emphasizes that promotion of the rule of law at all levels of the society, including at the grass-roots level, is the core element in achieving Goal 16. In this context, Japan highlights the Doha Declaration, which confirms the importance of effective, fair, humane, and accountable crime prevention and criminal justice systems and the institutions comprising them as a central component of the rule of law, as well as the importance of promoting a culture of lawfulness and strengthening public participation.
Japan welcomes and looks forward to the suggestions of other Member States in this regard.
(Logistics)
Mr. Chairperson, before I conclude, I would like to briefly inform all Member States on the status of Japan’s organizational preparations. I am pleased to inform you that the Japanese Government has started its organizational preparations.
For example, my position, as assistant vice minister in the MOJ, was newly established for the preparations. Also, a Special Project Team has been established, and its work is underway. We also started the process of selecting the host city for the next Congress.
(Closing)
The Doha Congress set the bar high for Japan, making it very important to examine the elements, especially the structural elements, that contributed to the success of the Doha Congress and to identify the elements that need to be replicated.
Japan remains committed to playing an active role in the areas of crime prevention and criminal justice and looks forward to welcoming the delegations in 2020.
Thank you, Mr. /Madam Chairperson.
Thank you, Mr. /Madam Chairperson,
Japan commends the success of the Doha Congress, which was indeed a starting point for the integration of crime prevention and criminal justice into the broader UN agenda, particularly Goal 16 and its targets of the 2030 Agenda.
(Follow-up process)
Under this item, first, let me emphasize the fact that the Japanese Government has been actively implementing the Doha Declaration.
For example, the Asia and Far East Institute for the Prevention of Crime and Treatment of Offenders (UNAFEI), operated by the Ministry of Justice of Japan, holds multi-national seminars and training programmes which focus on, inter alia, the fight against corruption and public participation in the prevention of crime and the treatment of offenders.
Japan also contributed over sixteen million dollars, an unprecedented amount, to the UNODC this February for capacity building projects on countering terrorism and organized crime, which has a growing linkage with financing terrorism in recent years.
These efforts reflect Japan’s strong commitment to following up on the Doha Declaration.
(Preparations for the next Congress)
(Substance-overall theme, agenda and workshops-)
Mr. Chairperson, advance preparation for the next Crime Congress will be important to its success.
Japan reiterates the importance of allocating sufficient time for preparation on substantive matters.
In this context, Japan appreciates that the Member States have approved the resolution proposed by Japan, together with Brazil, Mexico and Qatar, requesting the CCPCJ to approve the overall theme, agenda items, and workshop topics at its 26th session.
Mr. Chairperson, Japan would like to suggest an idea which we believe would be of help when Member States provide comments on the overall theme of the next Congress. Japan believes it would be advisable to maintain the momentum of the Doha Congress, which led to the inclusion of Goal 16 in the 2030 agenda.
For the first time, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development affirms that development requires peaceful and inclusive societies, justice for all, and effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at all levels. Goal 16 specifically ensures that the rule of law, peace and security are integral parts of the framework.
As the Member States deliberate the themes and agenda items for the next Congress, Japan proposes that we give due consideration to achieving Goal 16 and its targets. In this regard, it is also important to take practitioners’ perspectives into account and to take a practical approach. We believe this approach can make the Congress a most useful forum for both policymakers and practitioners.
Japan also emphasizes that promotion of the rule of law at all levels of the society, including at the grass-roots level, is the core element in achieving Goal 16. In this context, Japan highlights the Doha Declaration, which confirms the importance of effective, fair, humane, and accountable crime prevention and criminal justice systems and the institutions comprising them as a central component of the rule of law, as well as the importance of promoting a culture of lawfulness and strengthening public participation.
Japan welcomes and looks forward to the suggestions of other Member States in this regard.
(Logistics)
Mr. Chairperson, before I conclude, I would like to briefly inform all Member States on the status of Japan’s organizational preparations. I am pleased to inform you that the Japanese Government has started its organizational preparations.
For example, my position, as assistant vice minister in the MOJ, was newly established for the preparations. Also, a Special Project Team has been established, and its work is underway. We also started the process of selecting the host city for the next Congress.
(Closing)
The Doha Congress set the bar high for Japan, making it very important to examine the elements, especially the structural elements, that contributed to the success of the Doha Congress and to identify the elements that need to be replicated.
Japan remains committed to playing an active role in the areas of crime prevention and criminal justice and looks forward to welcoming the delegations in 2020.
Thank you, Mr. /Madam Chairperson.
The Practical Export Control Workshop was hosted by the Wassenaar Arrangement as part of its 20th Anniversary programs and held at the Permanent Mission of Japan to the International Organizations in Vienna on 27 and 28 June 2016. More than 100 government representatives from 46 countries participated in the technically focused Practical Workshop.
Workshop speakers included the 2016 WA Plenary Chair Ambassador Anu Laamanen (Finland), 2016 WA General Working Group Chair Ambassador Paul Beijer (Sweden), 2015-2016 WA Experts Group Chair Robertas Rosinas (Lithuania), 2016 WA Licensing and Enforcement Officers Meeting Chair Jon Erik Strömö (Norway), as well as the Head of the WA Secretariat, Ambassador Philip Griffiths. The WA control lists as well as export licensing and enforcement topics were covered during the two days.
The following link from WA’s webpage contains more details:
http://www.wassenaar.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/June-2016-Workshop-media-release.pdf
Workshop speakers included the 2016 WA Plenary Chair Ambassador Anu Laamanen (Finland), 2016 WA General Working Group Chair Ambassador Paul Beijer (Sweden), 2015-2016 WA Experts Group Chair Robertas Rosinas (Lithuania), 2016 WA Licensing and Enforcement Officers Meeting Chair Jon Erik Strömö (Norway), as well as the Head of the WA Secretariat, Ambassador Philip Griffiths. The WA control lists as well as export licensing and enforcement topics were covered during the two days.
The following link from WA’s webpage contains more details:
http://www.wassenaar.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/June-2016-Workshop-media-release.pdf