Japan's Official Development Assistance White Paper 2007
Next PageMain Text > Part II ODA DISBURSEMENTS IN FISCAL YEAR 2005 > Chapter 2 Details about Japan's ODA > Section 2. Measures for Each of the Priority Issues > 3. Addressing Global Issues > (9) International Organized Crimes
(9) International Organized Crimes
<Current Status>
With the advancement of globalization, development of high-tech devices, and increased human mobility, among other factors, large-scale and systematic international organized crimes, which are committed across national borders, are having a serious impact on the maintenance of security. Such crimes include illegal trafficking of drugs and weapons, smuggling of stolen goods, corporate crimes and economic crimes such as fraud and usurpations, counterfeiting of currency and credit cards, corruption, financial crimes such as tax evasion and money laundering, prostitution, illegal immigration, as well as human trafficking of women and children. The methods of international organized crimes have become even more sophisticated than before.
International organized crimes are crimes which transcend national borders. There is a limit to the countermeasures which can be achieved through the efforts of one country alone for such crimes. To respond to these international organized crimes, it is necessary for each country to enhance its countermeasures, and to eliminate legal loopholes by enhancing partnerships through such international cooperation as in the area of justice and law enforcement.
<Japan's Efforts>
Japan is making active contributions to deliberations and cooperation for establishing rules and measures related to international organized crimes through international organizations and frameworks such as the UN and the G8. Since international criminal organizations use countries with lax legislation and regulations as bases for their criminal activities, strengthening legal systems in each country contributes to countering international organized crimes.
Smuggling and stowaways coming into Japan mainly use maritime routes. There is a limit to the extent that the efforts of one country alone can stop crimes at the border, so the Government of Japan holds seminars with the objective of enhancing both the law enforcement capacity of Asian countries and coordination with those countries. Specifically, Japan hosted the Maritime Law Enforcement Seminar in the Philippines, the Seminar on Control of Drug Offences in Tokyo, and the Maritime Law Enforcement Training in Fukuoka, among others. Japan aims to enhance both the law enforcement capacity of coast guards in Asian countries and coordination with them. Furthermore, it implements technology cooperations in order to appropriately deal with international organized maritime crimes, including the smuggling of narcotics and weapons, stowaways, and others.
Human trafficking is also a challenge that has to be addressed internationally. In April 2004, Japan established the Inter-Ministerial Liaison Committee (Task Force) regarding measures to combat trafficking in persons, and the committee adopted a comprehensive Action Plan of Measures to Combat Trafficking in Persons in December of the same year. Currently the Government of Japan is implementing a variety of measures in accordance with this action plan. The Diet approved the conclusion of the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children in June 2005. Since September 2004, the government delegation has visited Indonesia, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, the Philippines, Colombia, Ukraine, Russia, Romania, and other countries, and has held discussions with the relevant authorities. Moreover, through the Trust Fund for Human Security and other means, Japan has provided assistance for various projects aimed at eradicating human trafficking. One recent example was the provision in March 2006 of assistance worth approximately US$2 million to the project that assists the lives of human trafficking victims69 who returned to their countries of origin, implemented by the International Labour Organization (ILO) in Thailand and the Philippines. Therefore, in September 2006 an Inter-agency Coordination Meeting among International Organizations on Collaborative Interventions to Counter Trafficking in Persons was held at MOFA. This came as part of the follow-up to the resolution entitled "Strengthening international cooperation in preventing and combating trafficking in persons and protecting victims of such trafficking," which was proposed by Japan and adopted at the Fifteenth Session of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice in 2005. Under the sponsorship of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the meeting brought together the concerned international organizations.70
Cooperation Based in Asia
● Due to the fact that the frequent use of forged or altered passports in international organized crime is also becoming an issue, Japan has held Seminars on Document Examination since 1995. The seminars afford opportunities to exchange information, such as information about document examination skills, between document examiners and other personnel of immigration control agencies of Southeast Asian countries. The purpose of the seminar is to develop mutual cooperative relationships, improve skills, and contribute to the proper and smooth administration of immigration across those countries and regions. At the 12th seminar held in February 2007 there was a fruitful exchange of information.
● The United Nations Asia and Far East Institute for the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders (UNAFEI) organized an international training course on transnational organized crime from August to October 2006. Participants from 11 developing countries, mainly from Asia, analyzed the current status and reviewed the measures concerning challenges in the investigation, prosecution and trial of transnational organized crime. The training course has contributed to the deployment of effective anti-crime measures as well as the reinforcement and advancement of criminal justice across those countries and regions.
● Due to the fact that the frequent use of forged or altered passports in international organized crime is also becoming an issue, Japan has held Seminars on Document Examination since 1995. The seminars afford opportunities to exchange information, such as information about document examination skills, between document examiners and other personnel of immigration control agencies of Southeast Asian countries. The purpose of the seminar is to develop mutual cooperative relationships, improve skills, and contribute to the proper and smooth administration of immigration across those countries and regions. At the 12th seminar held in February 2007 there was a fruitful exchange of information.
● The United Nations Asia and Far East Institute for the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders (UNAFEI) organized an international training course on transnational organized crime from August to October 2006. Participants from 11 developing countries, mainly from Asia, analyzed the current status and reviewed the measures concerning challenges in the investigation, prosecution and trial of transnational organized crime. The training course has contributed to the deployment of effective anti-crime measures as well as the reinforcement and advancement of criminal justice across those countries and regions.