Statement by Mr. Kazuo Sakakibara, Director-General of the Court Proceeding Department, Supreme Public Prosecutors Office on Agenda item 4: Criminal justice responses to prevent and counter terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, including the financing of terrorism, and technical assistance in support of the implementation of relevant international conventions and protocols
2016/5/24
Mr. Chairman,
First, let me take this opportunity to deliver my greatest compliments for your extensive efforts over the past several months to make this thematic discussion well-coordinated. I would also like to express my sincere appreciation to the Panelists for your invaluable views and suggestions that enable us better fight against terrorism.
Mr. Chairman,
The international community still faces serious challenges of terrorism and counterterrorism remains a top priority for the whole international community. Very recently, this was reconfirmed at the G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Hiroshima under the Japanese Presidency. At the Ise-Shima Summit, the G7 will adopt an action plan on counter terrorism and violent extremism that will include specific measures to enhance G7 and international efforts.
Mr. Chairman,
What can we in the field of criminal justice do to prevent and counter terrorism?
First, I would like to emphasize the importance of making exhaustive investigation and bringing the perpetrators to justice. We are absolutely determined to fight terrorism and will continue to vigorously detect, investigate and prosecute terrorism offenses.
Secondly, I would like to stress the importance of cutting off the flow of terrorist financing, which is another field that criminal justice can contribute.
Punishing the provision of funds to terrorist is an effective way for the criminal justice to intervene and to punish perpetrators before an act of terrorism is carried out.
In 2014, Japan amended the Act that implemented Financing of Terrorism Convention since 2002.
With this amended Act, Japan is able to contribute more to the global fight against terrorism, fulfilling the international standard set by Financial Action Task Force.
Mr. Chairman,
International cooperation is also critical in countering terrorism. Japan has ratified 13 of the international instruments against terrorism developed by the United Nations and others. While we are able to provide timely assistance to non-treaty countries, Japan has also concluded mutual legal assistance treaties to provide treaty-based prompter MLA to more than thirty countries and areas.
Mr. Chairman,
Japan appreciates and supports the UNODC’s vital role in countering terrorism. Over the last five years, Japan has contributed about 86 million dollars to the UNODC. The large part of these contributions was spent for assistance to countries in the Middle East and Africa for preventing terrorism and countering organized crime.
In order to eradicate terrorism, it is also necessary to create societies resilient to radicalization which may be a root cause of terrorism. Japan also provides various kinds of assistance in this area as well carrying out various projects with the UNODC.
To further promote such counter-terrorism activities, Japan submitted a resolution in the last year’s Commission titled “Technical Assistance for Implementing the International Conventions and Protocols Related to Counter-terrorism”.
Mr. Chairman,
Japan will host the Fourteenth United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice in 2020. As the next host country of the Congress, Japan reaffirms its commitment to implement the Doha Declaration which emphasizes countering terrorism under the international law.
I hope that the next 2020 Congress will be fruitful based on the steady implementation of the Doha Declaration by all countries.
Thank you very much for your attention.
First, let me take this opportunity to deliver my greatest compliments for your extensive efforts over the past several months to make this thematic discussion well-coordinated. I would also like to express my sincere appreciation to the Panelists for your invaluable views and suggestions that enable us better fight against terrorism.
Mr. Chairman,
The international community still faces serious challenges of terrorism and counterterrorism remains a top priority for the whole international community. Very recently, this was reconfirmed at the G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Hiroshima under the Japanese Presidency. At the Ise-Shima Summit, the G7 will adopt an action plan on counter terrorism and violent extremism that will include specific measures to enhance G7 and international efforts.
Mr. Chairman,
What can we in the field of criminal justice do to prevent and counter terrorism?
First, I would like to emphasize the importance of making exhaustive investigation and bringing the perpetrators to justice. We are absolutely determined to fight terrorism and will continue to vigorously detect, investigate and prosecute terrorism offenses.
Secondly, I would like to stress the importance of cutting off the flow of terrorist financing, which is another field that criminal justice can contribute.
Punishing the provision of funds to terrorist is an effective way for the criminal justice to intervene and to punish perpetrators before an act of terrorism is carried out.
In 2014, Japan amended the Act that implemented Financing of Terrorism Convention since 2002.
With this amended Act, Japan is able to contribute more to the global fight against terrorism, fulfilling the international standard set by Financial Action Task Force.
Mr. Chairman,
International cooperation is also critical in countering terrorism. Japan has ratified 13 of the international instruments against terrorism developed by the United Nations and others. While we are able to provide timely assistance to non-treaty countries, Japan has also concluded mutual legal assistance treaties to provide treaty-based prompter MLA to more than thirty countries and areas.
Mr. Chairman,
Japan appreciates and supports the UNODC’s vital role in countering terrorism. Over the last five years, Japan has contributed about 86 million dollars to the UNODC. The large part of these contributions was spent for assistance to countries in the Middle East and Africa for preventing terrorism and countering organized crime.
In order to eradicate terrorism, it is also necessary to create societies resilient to radicalization which may be a root cause of terrorism. Japan also provides various kinds of assistance in this area as well carrying out various projects with the UNODC.
To further promote such counter-terrorism activities, Japan submitted a resolution in the last year’s Commission titled “Technical Assistance for Implementing the International Conventions and Protocols Related to Counter-terrorism”.
Mr. Chairman,
Japan will host the Fourteenth United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice in 2020. As the next host country of the Congress, Japan reaffirms its commitment to implement the Doha Declaration which emphasizes countering terrorism under the international law.
I hope that the next 2020 Congress will be fruitful based on the steady implementation of the Doha Declaration by all countries.
Thank you very much for your attention.
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