Since the end of the Cold War, regional conflicts and civil wars stemming from various causes including antagonism between religions and ethnic groups have been on the rise. Today, the world also faces new threats such as terrorism and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. Within this context, the international community, including the UN Security Council, is expanding its efforts in both quality and quantity for conflict prevention and mediation for peace.

   There has also been increasing interest in “peacebuilding” at the G8 summit in recent years, while the UN Peacebuilding Commission, (*16) established with the objective of providing seamless assistance during the transition from post-conflict peacekeeping to reconstruction and development, started its activities in June 2006.

   Japan's engagement in peacebuilding not only improves its own security environment but also contributes to further enhancing the international trust that it enjoys as a nation of peace. Peacebuilding is therefore one of the major elements of Japan's diplomatic agenda, and Japan, with partners such as the UN and other international organizations, individual countries and NGOs, has been actively taking concrete measures in this regard, utilizing its diplomatic means including ODA from the perspective of ensuring “human security” (*17) as well as drawing on its experiences in Iraq, Afghanistan, and elsewhere.