4. Peacebuilding

The numerous regional and internal/intrastate conflicts arising from ethnic, religious, or historical differences continue to pose problems for the international community. Such conflicts generate a great number of refugees and internally displaced persons and easily become humanitarian and human rights issues. Moreover, such conflicts destroy many achievements gained through years of development efforts and cause massive economic loss. For this reason, ”peacebuilding” that bears the prevention of relapses into conflict and the creation of development foundations for the consolidation of sustainable peace in mind is a challenge for the international community as a whole. For example, discussions concerning a consistent approach that begins with the resolution of conflicts and continues to recovery, reconstruction, and nation building are carried out at forums such as the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) that was established in 2005.

<Japan’s Efforts>

As for specific efforts, Japan has provided assistance that includes refugee assistance and food aid in times of conflict, and assistance in the area of the peace process such as election assistance. Assistance is provided in the aftermath of conflicts to ensure domestic security and safety with the aim of consolidating peace, including assistance for the disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration (DDR) of former soldiers and reconstruction efforts in the security sector. Additionally, Japan has supported reconstruction by promoting efforts for the return of refugees and internally displaced persons and their resettlement, as well as by restoring basic infrastructure.

Furthermore, in order to establish consolidated peace and prevent the rise of another conflict, efforts are made in the social sector such as in health and education, as well as toward support for developing economic infrastructure and institutions and strengthening governmental, judicial, and police functions. Japan combines assistance provided via multilateral organizations with bilateral assistance, such as grant aid, technical cooperation, and loan aid, in order to provide this type of seamless assistance.

● Human Resource Development for Peacebuilding

In light of the fact that the needs from peacebuilding in the field are becoming more diverse and complex, Japan has been carrying out the Program for Human Resource Development in Asia for Peacebuilding since FY2007 to foster civilian experts from Japan and other Asian countries capable of playing an active role in peacebuilding in the field. The program consists of the pillars of: Coursework in Japan, where trainees acquire the practical knowledge and techniques deemed necessary for peacebuilding out in the field; Overseas Attachment, where trainees engage in administrative work at local offices such as those of international organizations in the peacebuilding field; and support for graduates to build careers. To date, about 110 Japanese and other Asians have taken part in the training course. Many program associates who completed the program are now actually working in the field of peacebuilding, in locations such as Sudan and Timor-Leste.

(1) Japan’s Assistance to Afghanistan and Pakistan

The destabilization of Afghanistan and Pakistan are problems for not only the two countries and the region, but for the entire world as well. Japan and the other members of the international community proactively provide support to both countries in order to ensure that Afghanistan does not devolve back into a hotbed of terrorism once again. Pakistan plays an important role in eradicating terrorism, such as the fact that it conducts anti-terrorism mopping-up operations in the border region with Afghanistan. As such, its stability is also key to the peace and stability of the region and the international community.

<Japan’s Efforts>

Japan has consistently extended assistance to Afghanistan to date, with its total assistance for the country amounting to approximately US$2.47 billion since October 2001. In 2002, Japan hosted the International Conference on Reconstruction Assistance to Afghanistan (Tokyo Conference). The conference secured commitments of more than US$4.5 billion from the international community, and Japan pledged to provide assistance of up to US$500 million. In November 2009, Japan unveiled the New Strategy to Counter the Threat of Terrorism, based on which Japan would provide assistance of approximately ¥80 billion that is urgently needed in Afghanistan and on which Japan would provide assistance up to an amount in the region of US$5 billion in about five years from 2009, based on the future situation in Afghanistan (Note 27).

Specifically, assistance will be provided focusing on the following pillars: support for enhancing Afghanistan’s capability to maintain security such as police; support for the reintegration of former Taliban foot soldiers into society such as the implementation of vocational training and creation of employment opportunities; and assistance for the sustainable and self-reliant development of Afghanistan in such areas as education, health, and other basic human needs.

When it comes to Pakistan, Japan has proactively carried out support activities since the country announced that it would carry out measures against terrorism in cooperation with the international community following the terrorist attacks in the United States in 2001 (Note 28). Japan’s Country Assistance Program for Pakistan was formulated in February 2005, and Japan has actively provided assistance to Pakistan for economic and social infrastructure, agriculture, basic human needs, and in other areas. What is more, the Pakistan Donors Conference was held in Tokyo in April 2009 through the joint sponsorship of the Government of Japan and the World Bank. Here Japan announced assistance of up to US$1 billion for Pakistan over two years (Note 29). Furthermore, based on the New Strategy to Counter the Threat of Terrorism, issued in November 2009, Japan provides support for a variety of initiatives for the sustainable stability and development of Pakistan, including economic growth and macroeconomic reforms, the reduction of poverty such as by improving the lives of residents, and stable civil life in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Province (formerly the North-West Frontier Province) and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas.

Japan sent a Japan Disaster Relief Team composed of a Self-Defense Force helicopter team (Note 30) and medical teams in response to the large-scale flood which occurred in late July 2010. Moreover, Japan decided to provide emergency humanitarian assistance as well as a new ODA loan and assistance through international organizations to provide the necessary funds to import resources to repair local roads and bridges and for flood disaster recovery. Japan’s total support expressed for the flood disaster is about US$568 million.

Notes:

(27) In place of the assistance totaling about US$2 billion that has been promised thus far.

(28) Since 1998 when Pakistan conducted nuclear tests, Japan has taken measures to scale down its assistance (it has halted provisions of assistance of an emergency or humanitarian nature, new grant aid with the exception of grassroots grant aid, and new loan aid) to the country.

(29) Premised on the implementation of an IMF program designed for macroeconomic stabilization, including the economy, finance, and so on.

(30) The team consists of six aircrafts and 520 personnel.

Main Text | Statictics and Reference Materials | Keyword | Columns | Charts