Press Releases
Outcome of the 36th Japan-UNICEF Policy Dialogue
On June 18, the 36th Japan-UNICEF Policy Dialogue was held.
- The Japanese side was led by Mr. NAKAMURA Ryo, Director-General for Global Issues, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the UNICEF side by Ms. Kitty van der Heijden, Deputy Executive Director, Partnerships, United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). A total of 18 participants, including both delegations, attended.
- The participants exchanged views on a wide range of issues prioritized by both sides to further strengthen cooperation in various areas in response to the changing global development and international political environment. Specifically, discussions covered achieving universal health coverage (UHC) for all children, responding to protracted humanitarian crises, solidarity in climate change and disaster risk reduction, cooperation in global education, support for Japanese personnel in UNICEF, and, in view of TICAD9 in August this year, Japan-UNICEF collaboration in Africa.
- Furthermore, the participants shared the serious situation in which vulnerable children worldwide are affected from various perspectives, including education, health, nutrition, water and sanitation, and gender, due to conflicts and natural disasters occurring around the world and confirmed ever-more increasing importance of UNICEF's activities, which holds high reputation and strong communication capabilities, and a regionally rooted network and track record. In addition, under the severe international environment, both sides confirmed that they will further strengthen and accelerate cooperation towards achieving the SDGs based on "human dignity," with the guiding principle of a new era of "human security."
(Reference) United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)
UNICEF was established by the first UN General Assembly in 1946. For the world's children and young people, it works broadly in areas such as health, nutrition, water and sanitation, HIV/AIDS, education, child protection, and social inclusion, providing emergency humanitarian assistance during natural disasters, armed conflicts, and infectious disease outbreaks, as well as medium-to-long-term development assistance. It practices the "Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus (HDP Nexus)" as an organization, and supports policy advocacy, formulation, and implementation for developing country governments, as well as advocacy to the international community. Its headquarters is located in New York (USA).