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| >>ODA Policy on Good Governance >>Good Practices on Good Governance |
Last Updated: November 19, 2007 |
"There is "value oriented diplomacy," which involves placing emphasis on the "universal values" such as democracy, freedom, human rights, the rule of law, and the market economy as we advance our diplomatic endeavors."
-- by Former Minister Mr. Taro Aso (Speech "Arc of Freedom and Prosperity: Japan's Expanding Diplomatic Horizons"、November, 2006)
The reinforcement of the base of democracy in developing countries is important for countries’ midterm and long-term security. This promotes people's participation in governance and development as well as the protection of the human rights. Japan cooperates in the aspect of governance by respecting the ownership of the developing countries. It also contributes towards human development, which will be the base of development and legal institutional building, and maintaining socio-economic base of the countries. This is based on the idea of support for the self-help efforts of the developing countries, stated in one of the basic policy of the ODA Charter (2003).
Mayor of Samawah and Councilors of Muthanna talking about the training in Japan at MOFA's press conference
Furthermore, Japan's Medium-term Policy on ODA specifying Japan's actions indicated in ODA Charter, indicates the support for policy planning and institutional building as one of the most significant issues for sustainable growth. Policy and institutional building on trade and investment is crucial for private sector sustainable growth. On the other hand, the eradication of corruption, legal and institutional reforms, accountability of administration and capacity development of local government are crucial for the democratic and fair society building. Japan supports the capacity building of police institutions which are important agencies for maintaining national security, legal institutional building, fair and appropriate electoral management and monitoring and human resource development.
- The Framework Featured in ODA Charter ＆ Mid-Term Policy (Extracts)
Japan's Official Development Assistance Charter (August, 2003)
I. Philosophy--Objectives, Policies, and Priorities
2. Basic Policies
(1) Supporting Self-Help Efforts of Developing Countries
The most important philosophy of Japan's ODA is to support the self-help efforts of developing countries based on good governance, by extending cooperation for their human resource development, institution building including development of legal systems, and economic and social infrastructure building, which constitute the basis for these countries' development. Accordingly, Japan respects the ownership by developing countries, and places priorities on their own development strategies. In carrying out the above policy, Japan will give priority to assisting developing countries that make active efforts to pursue peace, democratization, and the protection of human rights, as well as structural reform in the economic and social spheres.
Further details (Click Here) >> Medium-term Policy on ODA (Feburuary, 2005) (PDF)
- Initiatives & Funding Commitment
United Nations Democracy Fund
(March, 2007)
Japan has provided US$10 million for the United Nations Democracy Fund (UNDEF) in order to contribute to the efforts of international society, promoting foreign policy focused on universal values such as democracy and human rights.
UNDEF is established to support the promotion of democratic institutional reinforcement and democratic governance in the developing countries in need. The targets of UNDEF are the projects in the areas of: 1) democratic talk, constitution building/amendment process; 2) civil society empowerment; 3) civil education, voter registration and party reinforcement; 4) access to the related information by citizens, 5) human rights and a fundamental freedom, 6) accountability and transparency.
*The establishment of UNDEF was suggested by President Bush (USA) at the United Nations General Assembly in 2004. Following that, the report on the UN Reform by the UN Secretary-General published in March 2005 also stated the support for establishing UNDEF, and it was finally established in July 2005 by the UN Secretary-General.
Partnership for Democratic Development (Japanese) (June, 1996)
In Lyon Summit (1996), Japan announced the Partnership for Democratic Development (PDD) to support institution building and the reinforcement of civil society along with the three principles of partnership, ownership, and consultation and agreement with developing countries after reviewing Japan's former actions such as the support for the legal institutional building and human resource development. Japan has been implementing: 1) a support for each institutional building, 2) an election support 3) a reinforcement of civil society, 4) an expansion of women's political participation through multilateral and bilateral ODA including United Nations Human Security Fund.
Indonesia: Support Program for Reform of Indonesian National Police
Japan has been providing assistance that combines facility development and equipment provision with the priority of human resource development, including support to build institutions and improve administrative capacity. As a part of the Support Program for Reform of Indonesian National Police, Japan has been dispatching experts to Indonesia and also accepting trainees from the country since 2001. The country's National Police became independent of the National Army in 2000, and the democratization of the organization has been promoted with the aim of consolidating it as a civil police force. To support such endeavors, Japan had accepted a total of 96 trainees from the country by March 2006. The trainees learned how the Japanese police investigate criminal cases and the technologies used in crime laboratories. In addition, Japan has provided equipment as grant aid for wireless communication systems and simple drug identification sets. This contributed to the safety of citizens, as the improved wireless network has enabled the authorities to respond quickly to calls from citizens and the technology has been improved in the inspection of narcotic agents based on physical evidence.
Source: ODA White Paper (2006)
Brazil: Community Policing Project
Brazil, Japan contributes to the technological transfer of the police box system. Based on requests by the Government of Brazil, Japan dispatches short-term experts to the country and accepts trainees. In January 2005, Community Policing Project for the Federative Republic of Brazil was started with a view of making most of the past experiences, enhance the operation of the police box system, and make Brazil a model country for the technology transfer to introduce the system in Central and South Americas. In 2005, Japan accepted 21 trainees to introduce them to Japanese police activities in local communities through police stations and boxes.
Source: ODA White Paper (2006)
(Open a New Window)Photo from Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) Handbook (MOFA, 2005)
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