Women's Empowerment and Gender Equality
Foreign Minister KAMIKAWA’s participation in the symposium“WPS + Innovation from the United Nations”
On March 18, commencing at 4:35 p.m. (local time; March 19, 5:35 a.m. JST) for approximately 65 minutes, Ms. KAMIKAWA Yoko, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, who is visiting New York, U.S.to participate in the Ministerial Meeting of United Nations Security Council (UNSC), participated in the fourth meeting on “WPS + Innovation”, a symposium entitled “From the United Nations”. The overview of the event is as follows.
- At the beginning of the meeting, Minister Kamikawa made a speech. The outline is as follows;
- Japan is vigorously promoting WPS to realize a safe and secure world where “human dignity” is protected, based on the SDGs principle of “leaving no one behind”, and collaboration with the UN is essential for this purpose.
- I have held a series of dialogues with various stakeholders under the title of "WPS + Innovation," and this is the fourth round of such dialogues. After almost a quarter of a century since the adoption of UNSC Resolution 1325, I believe it is necessary to bring innovation to WPS and elevate it to the next level.
- It is said that the recovery and reconstruction teams with the direct participation of women have achieved higher results in Japan's disaster-affected areas. This applies to the international situation as well. Japan will continue to support Ukraine's recovery and reconstruction taking into account the WPS perspective. In addition, to promote peacebuilding in the Middle East and Africa, Japan provides not only short-term assistance, but medium- and long-term support utilizing Japan's knowledge of disaster recovery and advanced technologies.
- In the following panel discussion, we look forward to hearing frank opinions from those who have been on the front lines of UN operations or promoting WPS globally on what the challenges are in promoting WPS and what the new areas of opportunities for WPS.
- The panel discussion was moderated by Ambassador Mitsuko Shino, Deputy
Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations, with the participation of Ms. Sima Bahous, Executive Director of UN Women, Ambassador Merete Brattested, Permanent Representative of Norway to the United Nations, Ms.Izumi Nakamitsu, UN Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs. The discussion was very active, with each panelist pointing out the progress regarding WPS in the Security Council in recent years, as well as the necessity of protection of women in conflicts and more women’s participation in various fields. - In closing, Minister Kamikawa concluded the symposium by stating that the various opinions and suggestions that were gained at the panel discussion were very meaningful and that I will make effort to translate today’s discussions into concrete actions to implement WPS. The symposium was attended by a total of about 90 people, including permanent representatives of various countries to the United Nations.
In 2000, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) unanimously adopted the UNSCR 1325 on Women, Peace and Security (WPS), which stated for the first time in the Council's history that international peace and conflict prevention and resolution require the equal participation of women, protection against sexual violence in conflict, and gender equality. To implement the resolution and related resolutions, Japan has so far formulated and implemented three rounds of action plans.
