Press Releases
Courtesy call on Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs IKUINA Akiko by Ambassador Melanne Verveer, Executive Director of the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security


On 7 February, Ms. IKUINA Akiko, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, received a courtesy call by Ambassador Melanne Verveer, Executive Director of the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security, who is visiting Tokyo on Japan’s Invitation Programme for Ministers on the occasion of the WPS Focal Points Network 7th Capital-Level Meeting in Tokyo. An overview of the meeting is as follows.
- At the outset, Parliamentary Vice-Minister Ikuina stated that, in this milestone year, which marks the 25th anniversary of the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 1325, Japan would like to make further contributions to the international promotion of the WPS agenda by serving, together with Norway, as co-chairs of the WPS Focal Point Network (FPN). Ms. Ikuina also expressed her gratitude to Ambassador Verveer for her contribution to the meaningful discussions at the WPS-FPN seventh capital-level meeting in Tokyo and the public symposium, which were held on 4th and 5th February.
- In response, Ambassador Verveer expressed her gratitude for Japan's initiatives regarding WPS as well as DDR and expressed her expectation to further advance this agenda and gender equality.
- Ms. Ikuina and Ambassador Verveer concurred to work together including through the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security, including the establishment of a network in the field of WPS.
The WPS Focal Points Network is the network amongst the UN Member States to promote the WPS commitments through sharing lessons learned and good practices among Member States and regional organisations. Japan and Norway are the Co-Chair of the Network in 2025. The WPS-FPN Seventh Capital-Level Meeting was held in Tokyo from 4th February to 6th February.