Press Releases

Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Panel Discussion:
“How Japan can contribute to promoting women's participation in international peace and security”
G7 GEAC and WAW! Follow-up event

December 13, 2023
Panal Discussion at the United Nations University (A picture inside the venue)

On December 13, from 2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the United Nations University, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs hosted Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) Panel Discussion "How Japan can contribute to promoting women's participation in international peace and security" as a follow-up event of the G7 Gender Equality Advisory Council (GEAC) and World Assembly for Women (WAW!). This event was held in two parts. The outline of the event is as follows.

  1. In the first part, Mr. TSUJI Kiyoto, State Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan, delivered his opening remarks (the message was read by Mr. IMAFUKU Takao, Deputy Director-General / Deputy Assistant Minister (Ambassador) on his behalf), and Deputy Director-General IMAFUKU explained the features of Japan's WPS Action Plan, introducing how Japan is providing assistance by incorporating the WPS perspective in various countries in cooperation with international organizations, JICA, and NGOs. He was followed by Ms. HORIBA Akiko, Senior Programme Officer, Peacebuilding Programme, Sasakawa Peace Foundation; Ms. MATSUZAWA Tomoko, Director for International Cooperation on WPS, Defense Policy Bureau, Ministry of Defense; Ms. MACHIMURA Misa, Program Officer, Office for Gender Equality and Poverty Reduction, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA); Ms. KATO Maki, Country Representative of Afghanistan Program, Program Department, NPO Peace Winds Japan; Ms. ARIZONO Mitsuyo, former military staff officer for the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), who each gave reports on WPS initiatives unique to Japan from the frontline.
  2. In the second part of the panel discussion, Amb. Melanne Verveer, Executive Director, the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security; Dr. Maxime Houinato, Regional Director for UN Women East and Southern Africa Regional Office; Mr. Peter Roberts OAM, Minister and Deputy Head of Mission, Australian Embassy in Japan; and Dr. MEGURO Yoriko, Professor Emeritus of Sophia University, Tokyo and Chairperson of the Evaluation Committee of the National Action Plan on WPS, participated in a panel discussion with a very lively discussion on conflict and disaster response in light of the WPS Agenda.

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