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 > 4. Peacebuilding
4. Peacebuilding
<Current Situation>
Since the end of the Cold War, the international community has confronted antagonisms arising from ethnic, religious, or historical differences in many parts of the world, leading to numerous regional and internal/intrastate conflicts. The majority of victims who suffer from such conflicts are civilians including children. Such conflicts also generate a great number of refugees and internally displaced persons and easily become humanitarian and human rights issues. Moreover, such conflicts instantaneously destroy many achievements gained through years of development efforts and cause massive economic loss. Since peace and stability are prerequisites to development and growth, peacebuilding plays an important role in achieving the MDGs, shared goals for development in the international community.
In consideration of the report of the UN Secretary-General's High-level Panel on Threats, Challenges and Change in December 2004 and the report entitled "In Larger Freedom" submitted in March 2005 by then UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, the heads/leaders of the UN Member States reached an agreement in September 2005 to establish the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC)71 in the final document of the High-level Plenary Meeting of the UN General Assembly. Following this development, the UN General Assembly and the Security Council adopted a resolution on December 20, 2005, to establish the Commission (cofounded by the General Assembly and Security Council). The PBC began its activities in June 2006 with the main purpose of advising on and proposing integrated strategies for post-conflict peacebuilding and recovery based on a consistent approach, beginning with resolution of conflicts and continuing to recovery, reconstruction and nation-building in order to achieve sustainable peace. Japan has participated in the discussions of the PBC as one of its founding members. As a manifestation of the appreciation for Japan's overall efforts in the area of peacebuilding, Japan was elected as the second chair of the Commission in June 2007.
Furthermore, many international organizations have been making efforts to assist peacebuilding in conflict affected regions. For example, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is providing emergency assistance to the refugees and internally displaced persons caused by conflicts and providing assistance for their repatriation, while UNICEF's projects for helping children in conflict-affected regions are tailored to tackle the factors causing the conflict and the configuration of the conflict.
<Japan's Efforts>
Japan announced its Action from Japan on Conflict and Development in July 2000, and expressed its intent to provide comprehensive development assistance to help reduce damages caused at each level in the cycle of conflict, from conflict prevention through emergency humanitarian aid, reconstruction and rehabilitation assistance, to prevention of recurrence of conflicts. In addition, at the Asia-Africa Summit held in April 2005 the then Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi raised economic cooperation, peacebuilding, and promotion of international cooperation as issues that Asia as a whole must work to address. Furthermore, on the occasion of his visit to Ethiopia and Ghana from April to May 2006, he announced that Japan would actively support peace and development in Africa.
See the paragraph on Africa (Sub-Sahara) for details on this assistance
Japan lists peacebuilding as one of its priority issues in the ODA Charter and in Japan's Medium-Term Policy on ODA, which was made based on the Charter. The purpose of peacebuilding is defined as being "to prevent the occurrence and recurrence of conflicts, alleviate the various difficulties that people face during and immediately after conflicts, and subsequently achieve long-term stable development." Japan provides seamless assistance at every stage to ensure peace and stability. Specifically, Japan provides assistance, beginning with refugee assistance and food aid in times of conflict, and continuing with assistance in the area of the peace process, such as election assistance, which go some way toward resolving conflicts. Additionally, assistance is provided to ensure domestic security and safety following the resolution of conflicts, with the aim of consolidating peace. This assistance includes the Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration (DDR) of former soldiers and reconstruction efforts in the security sector. At the same time, the road to national reconstruction is paved by pushing efforts for returning refugees and internally displaced persons and resettling them, as well as by restoring basic infrastructure. Furthermore, aiming for national, economic, and social reconstruction in order to establish consolidated peace and prevent the rise of future conflicts, efforts are made in the social sector such as in health and education, as well as toward improving economic infrastructure, and strengthening governmental, judicial, and police functions. Japan combines assistance provided via multilateral organizations with bilateral assistance, such as grant aid, technical cooperation, and yen loans, in order to provide this type of seamless assistance.
Japan has thus far taken specific measures for peacebuilding in Iraq, Afghanistan, Sudan, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Kosovo, Timor-Leste, Palestinian Territories, Nepal and others, and will continue to actively address this issue by using official development assistance.
See Assistance for Each Region for more details
Chart II-25. Conceptual Diagram of Peacebuilding
Initiative for Human Resource Development in Asia for Peacebuilding
In August 2006, then Foreign Minister Taro Aso announced that Japan would launch the Initiative for Human Resource Development in Asia for Peacebuilding would be test-launched beginning in FY2007 to foster civilian experts needed in the field of peacebuilding and that Japan would promote the human resource development in Asia for peacebuilding.* In December 2006, then Prime Minister Shinzo Abe presented, as one of Japan's efforts for East Asian cooperation, the Initiative to then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo of the Philippines, then the chair of ASEAN, and again at the East Asian Summit in January 2007. Additionally, the Inter-ministries Liaison Committee on Human Resource Development in Asia for Peacebuilding was established within the Cabinet, and is currently working to strengthen the efforts. A pilot program conducted by MOFA that serves as the main pillar of this initiative started in September 2007 for Japanese and other Asian trainees at the Hiroshima Peacebuilders Center (HPC), the Secretariat of this pilot program founded by Hiroshima University.
* "A School to Build Peace Builders" Keynote Speech by Mr. Taro Aso, Minister for Foreign Affairs on the occasion of the MOFA – UNU Seminar "People Building Peace: Human Resource Development in Asia for Peacebuilding" (see http://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/un/pko/seminar0608-s.html).
Keynote address by Assistant Secretary-General for Peacebuilding Support Carolyn McAskie at the opening ceremony for HPC domestic training
A workshop at the HPC
In August 2006, then Foreign Minister Taro Aso announced that Japan would launch the Initiative for Human Resource Development in Asia for Peacebuilding would be test-launched beginning in FY2007 to foster civilian experts needed in the field of peacebuilding and that Japan would promote the human resource development in Asia for peacebuilding.* In December 2006, then Prime Minister Shinzo Abe presented, as one of Japan's efforts for East Asian cooperation, the Initiative to then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo of the Philippines, then the chair of ASEAN, and again at the East Asian Summit in January 2007. Additionally, the Inter-ministries Liaison Committee on Human Resource Development in Asia for Peacebuilding was established within the Cabinet, and is currently working to strengthen the efforts. A pilot program conducted by MOFA that serves as the main pillar of this initiative started in September 2007 for Japanese and other Asian trainees at the Hiroshima Peacebuilders Center (HPC), the Secretariat of this pilot program founded by Hiroshima University.
* "A School to Build Peace Builders" Keynote Speech by Mr. Taro Aso, Minister for Foreign Affairs on the occasion of the MOFA – UNU Seminar "People Building Peace: Human Resource Development in Asia for Peacebuilding" (see http://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/un/pko/seminar0608-s.html).
Keynote address by Assistant Secretary-General for Peacebuilding Support Carolyn McAskie at the opening ceremony for HPC domestic training
A workshop at the HPC