Symposium organized by Ministry of Foreign Affairs
"Japan's Foreign Policy for the Promotion of Human Rights and Democracy: Challenges and Prospects"

Date:

Friday, February 1, 2008, 13:00-17:10 (Registration starts from 12:30)

Place:

Auditorium, First Floor, Mita Kaigisho, 2-1-8 Mita, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Map
Azabu-juban Station Exit 2, Namboku and Oedo Subway Lines

All are invited to attend (Registration required)

Objectives of the Symposium:

The upcoming symposium on February 1, 2008, "Japan's Foreign Policy for the Promotion of Human Rights and Democracy: Challenges and Prospects," aims to discuss with academics, professionals and NGO staffs, including Mr. Roland Rich, Executive Head of the United Nations Democracy Fund (UNDEF) , what is the current trend of support for democratization in the world and how Japan could strengthen its foreign policy to further protecting and promoting human rights and democracy.

This symposium is based on the recent trend in the United Nations of "mainstreaming" human rights and with the view of publicizing the activities of the UNDEF which provides assistance for strengthening democratic institutions and facilitating democratic governance in new or restored democracies. Japan made a contribution in March 2007 to the UNDEF in the amount of 10 million US dollars.

Program Fee: Free

English - Japanese simultaneous interpretation available

* For the NGO staffs interested in support for democratization, we recommend you to participate in Seminar on Democracy Support for Japanese NGO (Japanese) taking place 9:45- 17:00, on Saturday, February 2, 2008, at the Institute for International Cooperation, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Ichigaya, Tokyo. Please check your precondition to participate the Seminar and the registration deadline.

Program of the Symposium

Facilitator: Mr. Tetsuya KIMURA, Director, Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs Division, Foreign Policy Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

13:00 Opening Remarks

Ambassador Yoshitaka AKIMOTO, Ambassador in charge of United Nations Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (CHANGED)

13:10-13:40 Keynote Speech: The Value of International Democracy Promotion

<Keynote Speaker>

Mr. Roland RICH, Executive Head, United Nations Democracy Fund (UNDEF)

13:40-15:00 Panel 1: The Current Situation and Challenges of Support for Democratization in the World

<Moderator>

Ms. Hikariko ONO, Director, Policy Planning Division, Foreign Policy Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

<Panelists> (in alphabetical order)

Mr. Erik JENSEN, Senior Law Advisor, The Asia Foundation, and Co-Director, Rule of Law Program, Stanford Law School

Professor Izumi NAKAMITSU-LENNARTSSON, Visiting Professor, Hitotsubashi University

Mr. Roland RICH, Executive Head, United Nations Democracy Fund (UNDEF)

15:00 -15:20 Break

15:20-17:00 Panel 2: Japan's Foreign Policy for the Promotion of Human Rights and Democracy: Challenges and Prospects

<Moderator>

Ambassador Yoshitaka AKIMOTO, Ambassador in charge of United Nations Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (CHANGED)

<Panelists> (in alphabetical order)

Professor Masanori AIKYO, Director of Center for Asian Legal Exchange (CALE) and Professor of Graduate School of Law, Nagoya University

Mr. Tetsuya KIMURA, Director, Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs Division, Foreign Policy Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Professor Izumi NAKAMITSU-LENNARTSSON, Visiting Professor, Hitotsubashi University

Professor Yasunobu SATO, Graduate Program on Human Security, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokyo

17:00 Closing Remarks

Ambassador Yoshitaka AKIMOTO, Ambassador in charge of United Nations Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (CHANGED)

Registration

We will accept registrations by e-mail or fax (Please note that we accept registration by e-mail from December 28, 2007, however we accept registration by fax from January 11, 2008).

• E-mail Registration (From Friday, December 28, 2007, until, 17:30, Wednesday, January 30, 2008)
  Please put "Symposium" in the subject line as and send the registration form (PDF, WORD) to the following e-mail address.
  Email: hrsympo@comm.stage.ac
• Fax Registration (From Friday, January 11, until, Wednesday, January 30, 2008)
  Please fill in the registration form (PDF, WORD) and send it to the following fax number:
  Fax: 03-5966-5773
• Deadline for registration: 17:30, January 30, 2008
• The Secretariat will not contact you to confirm your registration. When the number of registrations exceeds the capacity of the venue of approximately 100 seats, we may need to restrict admissions. We will stop accepting registrations when they exceed the capacity of the venue to avoid such a situation. We appreciate for your understanding and cooperation on this matter in advance.

* Personal data submitted to us will be properly administered and used for the sole purpose of the management of this symposium.

* Please allow us adequate time to check your name on the day. Please follow the instructions given by the staff at the venue. In extreme cases we may decline your admission or ask you to leave.

* No parking space is available in the Mita Kaigisho. Please make use of public transportation.

Inquiries regarding this Symposium:

Secretariat:
Tel: 03-5966-5784 (Weekdays only, from 9:30 -17:30, from 9:30, Friday, January 11, 2008, until 17:30, Wednesday, January 30, 2008)
Fax: 03-5966-5773
Email: hrsympo@comm.stage.ac

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