2. Sharing Universal Values and Realizing a Peaceful and Secure Society
A society where the rights of individuals are guaranteed, where people can engage in socio-economic activities with a sense of safety, and where these activities are managed equitably and stably forms the foundation of stable development through “quality growth” of developing countries. From the standpoint of solidifying this foundation, the sharing of universal values such as freedom, democracy, respect for basic human rights, and the rule of law, as well as the ensuring of peace, stability, and security constitute the prerequisites of nation-building and development.
2-1 Assistance for Realizing an Equitable and Inclusive Society
(1) Assistance for the Development of Legal and Judicial Systems, and Socio-Economic Systems
“Quality growth” of developing countries requires improvement of fundamental conditions for their effective, efficient, and stable socio-economic activities. The development of socio-economic infrastructure, coupled with the establishment of the rule of law, the realization of good governance, the promotion and consolidation of democratization, and respect for basic human rights including women’s rights, will be key to laying the foundation for developing a nation through self-help efforts. This requires assistance for the development of legal and judicial systems that involves the development of positive laws and the training of legal and judicial experts including experts in the correction and rehabilitation of offenders, as well as assistance for the development of economic systems that involves the development of tax systems; appropriate collection, management and execution of taxes; strengthening of audit functions of the public sector; and human resources development for improving financial systems.
< Japan’s Efforts >
As part of the assistance for legal and economic systems, Japan provides assistance that addresses legal and judicial system reform, local administration, capacity-building of civil servants, capacity enhancement of internal audits, and human resources development related to the development of civil code, competition law, tax, internal audit, and public investment systems in countries and regions, such as Cambodia, Bangladesh, Viet Nam, Myanmar, Laos, Ghana, Tanzania, Malawi, and the Palestinian Territories. Assistance for this sector is a typical example of “person-to-person cooperation” between Japan and the recipient countries, and plays a role in “Visible Japanese Assistance.”
In addition, the improvement of the legal and economic systems in developing countries through such measures is an important effort in the sense that it will also improve the business environment there for Japanese companies. Japan’s assistance for the improvement of legal and economic systems draws on Japan’s “soft power.” The assistance promotes and underpins the growth of the world, including Asia.
Every year, the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) holds an international training course (twice a year) and an international senior seminar (once a year) for criminal justice practitioners in developing countries, mainly in the Asia-Pacific region, through the United Nations Asia and Far East Institute for the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders (UNAFEI). Each course and seminar have taken up the priority issues of the UN and the international community, and adapted to the changes in the global society. The main topic of the spring international training course is the treatment of offenders, and the main topic of the autumn international training course is crime prevention and crime measures. The international senior seminar covers a wide range of criminal justice issues.
MOJ also conducts international training courses on assisting the improvement of legal systems, as well as studies concerning the legal systems of other countries and seminars in developing countries through dispatching experts. These activities are aimed at supporting the drafting of basic laws and regulations as well as economic laws and regulations in developing countries, establishing the basis for the proper operation and execution of legal systems, and strengthening the training of legal professionals. Specifically, MOJ invited legal practitioners and lawmaking professionals, such as justice ministry officials, judges, and prosecutors, from Asian countries including Viet Nam, Myanmar, and Cambodia, and held trainings on themes such as the drafting of legislation and the development of legal human resources tailored to the needs of each country. Additionally, MOJ dispatched experts from Japan to the assistance recipient countries to hold seminars and other activities.
In order to earnestly and proactively promote assistance that is aligned with the needs of developing countries, MOJ works to continuously implement effective assistance by conducting broad and basic studies regarding the legal systems of the countries and their interpretations and operations.