Press Releases
Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs ONISHI’s attendance at the High-Level Segment of the Geneva Conference on Disarmament and the High-Level Segment of the UN Human Rights Council (Results)
From February 24 to February 26 (from 24 to 25 local time), Mr. ONISHI Yohei, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, visited Geneva, Swiss Confederation, where he attended the High-Level Segment of the Official Session of the Conference on Disarmament and the High-Level Segment of the 61st Session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, and held meetings with senior officials of international organizations. The overview of his visit is as follows:
1. High-Level Segment of the Official Session of the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva
On February 24, Parliamentary Vice-Minister ONISHI attended the high-level segment of the official session of the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva and made a statement on behalf of the Government of Japan. In his statement, Parliamentary Vice-Minister ONISHI noted that last year marked 80 years since the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and saw growing interest in the realities of atomic bombings in the international community. He stated that Japan will contribute to discussions and dialogues at this year’s 11th Review Conference of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), toward a world without nuclear weapons. He also called for the reinvigoration of existing disarmament institutions, the immediate start of negotiations on a Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty (FMCT), and the early entry into force of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT).
2. High-Level Segment of the 61st Session of the Human Rights Council
On February 25, Parliamentary Vice-Minister ONISHI attended the High-Level Segment of the 61st Human Rights Council session and delivered a statement on behalf of the Government of Japan. In his statement, Parliamentary Vice-Minister ONISHI stressed the importance of the international community continuing “dialogue” and “cooperation” to protect human rights, and expressed Japan’s view on human rights situation in some regions such as North Korea and China. In addition, Parliamentary Vice-Minister ONISHI also expressed Japan’s continued strong commitment to the maintenance of a free and open international order based on the rule of law as a member of the Human Rights Council.
3. Meetings with officials from international organizations
On February 24, Parliamentary Vice-Minister ONISHI met individually with Mr. Volker Türk, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, and Dr. Gilles Carbonnier, Vice-President of the International Committee of the Red Cross. On February 25, he met with Mr. Barham Salih, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. In each of these meetings, they confirmed a common commitment to continue working closely together.
4. Dialogue with Japanese staff of international organizations
Parliamentary Vice-Minister ONISHI met with Japanese staff members of international organizations in Geneva, exchanged their views, and delivered a message to encourage them in their work.
