UN Peacekeeping Operations
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Welcome Ceremony at Zionani Base on the Golan Heights |
Japan Joins UN Peacekeeping Operations
Japan, as a responsible member of the international community, has been strenuously working for the maintenance of peace and security. Accordingly, participation in UN peacekeeping operations is today placed as one of Japan's important areas of cooperation for international peace and security.
Japan's first substantial participation in a UN peacekeeping operation was in 1989, when 27 electoral observers were dispatched to the United Nations Transition Assistance Group (UNTAG) in Namibia. Then in 1992, the enactment of the International Peace Cooperation Law enabled Japan to send not only its civilian personnel but also its Self-Defense Forces personnel to UN peacekeeping operations. Based on that law, Japan participated in peacekeeping operations in Angola, Cambodia, Mozambique, El Salvador and East Timor, and since 1996 has been dispatching a Self-Defense Forces contingent to the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF), which is deployed on the Golan Heights. Japan's Self-Defense Forces personnel were also sent to assist Rwandan refugees and East Timorese displaced persons as part of international humanitarian relief operations. Japan also cooperated in international election monitoring activities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which were conducted by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in 1998 and 2000.
To date, Japan has also made contributions in kind. For example, Japan provided refugee relief materials such as tents and blankets to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) working for Kosovar refugees and East Timorese displaced persons in 1999. In the same year, Japan also provided the United Nations Mission in East Timor (UNAMET) with radios for public information purposes in support of the direct ballot in August 1999.
In addition to these field activities, Japan takes an active part in discussions in the United Nations to improve the effectiveness of peacekeeping operations. Japan, for example, has been serving as vice-chair for the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations, the principal UN forum undertaking a comprehensive review of the questions related to peacekeeping operations.
With regard to the issue of the safety of peacekeepers, Japan strongly maintained that necessary measures should be taken for significant improvement, and Japan's initiative resulted in the adoption in 1994 of the "Convention on the Safety of UN and Associated Personnel," which Japan was the second to ratify. Japan has been actively urging other countries which have not yet done so to become a party to the convention.
Japan will continue to cooperate with UN peacekeeping activities not only by participating in actual operations but also by actively engaging in discussions for further improvement of these operations.
Japanese Participation in United Nations Peacekeeping Operations under the International Peace Cooperation Law
as of August 2000
| Area of Contribution | Duration | Number of Personnel | Primary Activities | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Nations Angola Verification Mission II (UNAVEM II) |
Electoral Observers | September to October 1992 | 3 persons | *Monitoring to ensure fair conduct of presidential and legislative elections |
| United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC) |
Military Observers | September 1992 to September 1993 | 8 persons on two occasions | *Monitoring the storage of collected weapons and cease-fire observance |
| Civilian Police | October 1992 to July 1993 | 75 persons | *Advising and supervising police in administrative work | |
| Troops (Engineering Units) |
September 1992 to September 1993 | 600 persons on two occasions | *Construction of roads, bridges, etc.; supply of fuel and water to UNTAC division | |
| Electoral Observers | May to June 1993 | 41 persons | *Monitoring to ensure fair conduct and management of elections for the Constituent Assembly | |
| United Nations Operation in Mozambique (ONUMOZ) |
Staff Officers | May 1993 to January 1995 | 5 persons on two occasions | *Performing operations planning at ONUMOZ headquarters and coordinating transportation |
| Troops (Movement Control Units) |
May 1993 to January 1995 | 48 persons on three occasions | *Technical coordination and allocation of transportation | |
| Electoral Observers | October to November 1994 | 15 persons | *Monitoring to ensure fair conduct of presidential and legislative elections | |
| United Nations Observer Mission in El Salvador (ONUSAL) |
Electoral Observers | March to April 1994 | 15 persons on two occasions | *Monitoring to ensure fair conduct of presidential and legislative elections |
| Humanitarian Relief Operations for Rwandan Refugees |
Troops (Refugee Relief Units) |
September to December 1994 | 283 persons | *Humanitarian assistance in such domains as medical services, sanitation, water purification |
| Troops (Airlifting Units) |
September to December 1994 | 118 persons | *Transport of supplies and personnel for the refugee relief unit and others | |
| Liaison and Coordination Personnel | September to December 1994 | about 10 persons on several occasions | *Liaison and coordination activities with UNHCR and related organizations | |
| United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) |
Staff Officers | February 1996 to the present | 2 persons on five ocasions | *Public relations of UNDOF headquarters; planning and coordination of transport and maintenance work |
| Troops (Transport Units) |
February 1996 to the present | 43 persons on ten occasions | *Transport of food, storage of supplies in storage areas, road repair, and maintenance of heavy equipment, etc. | |
| Liaison and Coordination Personnel | February 1996 to the present | 4 to 6 persons on several occasions | *Liaison and coordination activities for the Self-Defense Forces unit and staff officers with related organizations | |
| International Election Monitoring Activity in Bosnia and Herzegovina |
Polling Supervisors | September 1998 | 25 persons | *Conferring with and advising the Chairperson of each polling station; verifications of procedural instructions |
| Election Observers | September 1998 | 5 persons | *Monitoring to ensure fair conduct and management of presidency elections, etc. in Bosnia and Herzegovina | |
| Liaison and Coordination Personnel | August to September 1998 | 4 persons | *Liaison and coordination activities for the supervisors and observers from Japan with the OSCE and related organizations | |
| United Nations Mission in East Timor (UNAMET) |
Civilian Police | July to September 1999 | 3 persons | *Advising the Indonesia police in discharging their duties |
| Liaison and Coordination Personnel | July to September 1999 | 3 persons on several occasions | * Liaison and coordination activities for the civlian police officers from Japan with the Indonesian Government and related organizations | |
| Humanitarian Relief Operation for East Timorese Displaced Persons |
Troops(Airlifting Units) | November 1999 to February 2000 | 113 persons | *Transport of UNHCR humanitarian relief items |
| Liaison and Coordination Personnel | November 1999 to February 2000 | 6 persons on several occasions | *Liaison and coordination activities with UNHCR and related organizations | |
| International Election Monitoring Activity in Bosnia and Herzegovina |
Polling Supervisors | March to April 2000 | 11 persons | *Supervision of several polling stations during the municipal election |
| Liaison and Coordination Personnel | March to April 2000 | 6 persons | *Liaison and coordination activities for the supervisors from Japan with the OSCE and related organizations |
N.B.1: The Maritime and Air Self-Defense Force contingents provided transport and secondary support operations in Cambodia.
N.B.2: The Air Self-Defense Force contingents provided transport and secondary support operations in Mozambique and the Golan Heights.
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