U.S.-Japan Global Peace Operations Initiative Senior Mission Leaders Course

October 15, 2009
Japanese

The Governments of Japan and the United States will conduct a Global Peace Operations Initiative (GPOI) Senior Mission Leaders (SML) Course from 19 through 30 October 2009 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan for the purpose of increasing in Asia-Pacific the pool of potential senior leaders for United Nations peacekeeping operations. The opening ceremony of the course will be held on 19 October 2009 in the International Convention Hall at the ministry. At the ceremony the Governments of Japan and the United States will be represented by Mr. Koichi Takemasa, State Secretary for Foreign Affairs, and officials from the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo, Major General John Toolan, Deputy Commander of the U.S. Forces Japan respectively. Ms. Izumi Nakamistu, Director of Policy, Evaluation and Training Division, Department of Peacekeeping Operations, will attend the ceremony from the United Nations.
The U.S.-Japan GPOI SML course supports the G8 Action Plan to expand global capability for peace support operations committed by the G8 leaders at the 2004 G8 Sea Island Summit. Course participants comprise 26 military, police, and civilian officials from 13 countries in the Asia-Pacific region who are potential senior mission leaders for future United Nations peacekeeping operations.
This course reflects the curriculum developed and conducted by the United Nations and complies with United Nations training guidelines. This U.S.-Japan GPOI SML course is the first senior mission leaders course taught by Member States of the United Nations.
The course incorporates a multinational faculty, comprised of experienced instructors with United Nations peacekeeping experience from a number of countries, including mentors who are former senior leaders in United Nations peacekeeping missions. During the two-week course participants will undergo training and discussions in integrated planning; mediation; public affairs; Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration (DDR); peace building; rule of law; protection of civilians; gender based violence; security management; humanitarian affairs; and human rights in the context of peace support operations. Participants will also learn integrated planning of a UN peacekeeping operation through exercise.

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