Since the terrorist attacks in the United States on September 11, 2001, the international community has placed countering terrorism as among its highest priorities. In various fora such as the United Nations, the G8, and other multilateral frameworks, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), and other regional cooperation bodies, as well as bilateral cooperation mechanisms, the need for strengthening counter-terrorism measures has been confirmed, and thus, substantial cooperation as well as strengthening of political will have been making steady progress.

   Although the leadership and the number of combatants of the international terrorist organization Al-Qaeda and other related groups have declined, their strength still cannot be underestimated. 2006 saw terrorist incidents occur all around the world. Japanese tourists and persons living abroad as well as Japanese companies have also been affected by the threat of international terrorism, such as the terrorist plot revealed in August to blow up airplanes in the UK.

   Terrorism is an issue affecting more than the safety of the nation and its citizens. Through its impact on investment, tourism, trade, and so on, it is an issue that can have an enormous impact on the economy of a nation. Taking the stance that terrorism can be neither justified nor tolerated for any reason, Japan considers counter-terrorism as its own security issue. Making use of a broad range of approaches, such as providing assistance to other countries and strengthening international legal frameworks, Japan will continue to actively strengthen its counter-terrorism efforts in cooperation with the international community.

   Furthermore, human trafficking, drug-related crime, cyber crime, money laundering, and other cross-border organized crime (international organized crime) are escalating further, as a result of globalization, the sophistication of communications networks, and an expansion in the movements of people. Within international frameworks such as the United Nations, the G8, and the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) (*15) , discussions and exchanges of views are being held on concerted measures to be undertaken in response to international organized crime, and Japan, as one of the important members of those framework organizations, is actively involved in such international efforts. In particular, conventions and other forms of international rule-making are important, and Japan is working towards the conclusion of conventions on international organized crime while it promotes the establishment of the necessary legal framework domestically.