Tokyo Peacebuilders Symposium 2008
"Peacebuilding Experience and Knowledge from Asia to the World"

UN House, Tokyo, March 24-25, 2008
Co-organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan and United Nations University (UNU)

Peacebuilding is one of the major challenges facing today's global community. Japan, in close cooperation with the ASEAN and other Asian countries, launched a pilot program to train civilian peacebuilders in Asia, with strong support from leading countries, international organizations and training institutions in this field. The program started in September 2007 in Hiroshima. The trainees completed their coursework at the end of October and are undergoing overseas practical training in conflict-affected countries before they graduate in March 2008.

Japan is committed to contributing to peacebuilding in the world. It has been serving as Chair of United Natoins Peacebuilding Commission since June 2007. In 2008, Japan will host the Fourth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICADIV) in May and the G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit in July to address pressing global issues including peacebuilding.

Prime Minister Fukuda stated in his policy speech in January this year that Japan would actively address global challenges and play a responsible role in the international community as a "Peace Fostering Nation" which contributes to peace and development in the world. He also stated that Japan aspires to become a hub of human resource development as well as making research and intellectual contributions to further promote cooperation in the field of peacebuilding.

The United Nations University has a strong record of research, publishing and capacity-building in various elements of peacebuilding: strengthening democratic institutions, ensuring security sector reform and balancing criminal justice with reconciliation. Its Peace and Governance Programme initiated a series of capacity building workshops in countries currently on the list of the Peacebuilding Commission.

It is against this background that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan and the United Nations University decided to launch the "Tokyo Peacebuilders Symposium" to be held at UNU Headquarters on March 24-25, 2008, with the broad participation of peacebuilding practitioners and academics from Asia and other regions of the world, to feed into global peacebuilding efforts. We would like to draw various insights and suggestions from the participants of this symposium on contributing to peacebuilding from an Asian perspective and strengthening the regional and global networks in this field. We welcome your participation in this event.

Date and Venue:

Monday, March 24, 9:30-17:40 at UN House (Elizabeth Rose Hall / Max. 110 people)
Tuesday, March 25, 9:30-13:00 at UN House (U Thant Hall / Max. 330 people)
[Tuesday, March 25, 14:00-18:00 -- Outreach Events at UN House]

(Address & Map)
53-70, Jingumae 5-chome, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-8925, Japan
Map (http://www.unu.edu/hq/ginfo/contact.html )

<Program>

Monday, March 24 at UN House (Elizabeth Rose Hall / Max. 110 people)

9:30-9:40

Opening Remarks:: Mr. Masatoshi Shimbo, Deputy Director-General, Foreign Policy Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan
Opening Speech:: Ms. Akiko Yamanaka, Member of the House of Representatives, Member of the Advisory Council on Human Resource Development for Peacebuilding

Part 1: Peacebuilding Experience in Asia - Listening to Voices on the Ground

9:40-11:10	Session 1: Cambodia Presenters: Mr. Ouch Borith, Secretary of State, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Kingdom of Cambodia Mr. Ok Serey Sopheak, Permanent Facilitator for Conflict Prevention in Cambodian Election (COPCEL) II, Cambodia Development Resource Center (CDRI) Mr. Motoo Noguchi, International Judge in the Supreme Court Chamber, Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) Commentators: Mr. Michiya Kumaoka, Co-Representative, People's Forum on Cambodia, Japan (PEFOC, J) Mr. Ngoun Sokveng, Hiroshima Peacebuilders Center (HPC) Program Associate (Cambodia), UNDP Office in Timor-Leste Moderator: Mr. Yasushi Akashi, former Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations for Cambodia
11:10-11:30	Coffee Break
11:30-13:00	Session 2: Timor-Leste Presenters: Mr. Jose Turquel de Jesus, President Adviser on International Relations, Presidential Office of Timor-Leste Fr. Martinho Germano da Silva Gusmâo, Spokesperson, National Electoral Commission of Timor-Leste Mr. Kiyohiko Toyama, Member of the House of Councilors, Member of the Advisory Council on Human Resource Development for Peacebuilding Commentators: Mr. Katsuo Matsumoto, Director, 1st Division of Development Assistance Department, Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) Ms. Ayako Higuchi, HPC Program Associate (Japan), UNDP Office in Timor-Leste Moderator: Dr. Sukehiro Hasegawa, former Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations for Timor-Leste
13:00-14:00	Lunch

Part 2: Asian Contribution to Peacebuilding - Sharing Best Practices in the Field

14:00-15:30	Session 3: State Building and Governance - Beyond Election Presenters: Mr. Hadar N. Gumay, Executive Director, Center for Electoral Reform (Indonesia) Dr. Steven Rood, Country Representative for the Philippines and Pacific Island Nations / Regional Advisor for Local Governance, The Asia Foundation Mr. Toshiro Ozawa, Director-General, Secretariat of the International Peace Cooperation Headquarters, Cabinet Office Commentators: Mr. Toshiyuki Niwa, Former Deputy Executive Director of UNICEF Ms. Haruka Katarao, HPC Program Associate (Japan), International IDEA (Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance) Africa Regional Office (Pretoria) Moderator: Ms. Izumi Nakamitsu-Lennartsson, Visiting Professor, Graduate School of International and Public Policy, Hitotsubashi University
15:30-15:50	Coffee Break
15:50-17:20	Session 4: Community Development and Human Security- Addressing the Gaps Presenters: Dr. Mahabub Hossain, Executive Director of BRAC (Bangladesh) Mr. Guiamel Alim, Chairperson, Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society (Philippines) Mr. Brunson McKinley, Director General, International Organization for Migration (IOM) Commentators: Mr. Kazuo Tase, Chief, Human Security Unit, Office of Coordinator for Humanitarian Assistance (OCHA) Mr. Zainudin Malang, HPC Program Associate (Philippines), IOM Office in Aceh Moderator: Mr. Hiroshi Kato, Director-General, Institute for International Cooperation, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)
17:20-17:40	Keynote Speech: Mr. Masahiko Koumura, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan

Tuesday, March 25 at UN House (U Thant Hall / Max. 330 people)

9:30-9:40

Opening Remarks:: Professor Dr. Konrad Osterwalder, Rector, United Nations University (UNU)

Part 3: Promoting Asian Contribution to Global Peacebuilding

9:40-10:30	Session 5: Keynote Speeches Speakers: Dr. Surin Pitsuwan, Secretary-General, ASEAN Secretariat Mr. Kenzo Oshima, Senior Vice-President, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) MC: Ms. Aiko Doden, Senior News Commentator, Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK)
10:30-10:50	Coffee Break
10:50-12:50	Session 6: Peacebuilding from Asia to the World - Next Steps Reporters: Mr. Yasushi Akashi, former Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations for Cambodia Dr. Sukehiro Hasegawa, former Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations for Timor-Leste Ms. Izumi Nakamitsu-Lennartsson, Visiting Professor, Graduate School of International and Public Policy, Hitotsubashi University Mr. Hiroshi Kato, Director-General, Institute for International Cooperation, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Commentators: Dr. Vesselin Popovski, Senior Academic Programme Officer, United Nations University (UNU) Dr. Emile Rwamasirabo, Ambassador of the Republic of Rwanda to Japan Dr. Shazryll Zahiran, HPC Program Associate (Malaysia), UNDP Office in Laos Ms. Eri Suzuki, HPC Program Associate (Japan), UNAMID (AU/UN Hybrid Operation in Darfur) Moderator: Dr. Takashi Shiraishi, Vice-President and Professor, National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS)
12:50-13:00	Closing Remarks: Dr. Hideaki Shinoda, Director, Hiroshima Peacebuilders Center (HPC)

Languages: English and Japanese (Simultaneous Translation Provided)
Participation Fee: Free

Registration: Since the numbers of seats available are different between Day 1 and Day 2, registrations of Day 1 and Day 2 are made separately. If you wish to attend the symposium, please apply on http://www.bees-inter.co.jp/registration.html . A Participants' Identification Form will be returned by e-mail. Please bring the print-out of that Form together with your identification card to the reception of the symposium. Registration is made on a first-come first-served basis. We appreciate the understanding of those whose registration could not be met due to the limited number of seats available.

If you have any questions about this symposium, please contact International Peace Cooperation Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan (+81-3-5501-8214).

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Tokyo Peacebuilders Symposium 2008 "Peacebuilding Experience and Knowledge from Asia to the World"