Press Releases
Courtesy call on Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs ERI by Mr. Kishore, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction and Head of the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR)
On March 10, commencing at 10:00 a.m. for approximately 30 minutes, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ms. ERI Arfiya, received a courtesy call from Mr. Kamal Kishore, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction and Head of the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), who is currently visiting Japan.
- At the outset, Parliamentary Vice-Minister Eri referred to the High School Students Summit on “World Tsunami Awareness Day” 2025 in Sendai, which she attended last year, emphasizing the importance of passing down memories in disaster risk reduction. She also touched upon the 15th anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake, stating Japan intends to continue collaborating with UNDRR while leveraging its accumulated knowledge.
- In response, Special Representative Kishore expressed gratitude for Japan's longstanding leadership and support for UNDRR, while also expressing expectations for the utilization of Japan's expertise and human resources. Furthermore, Special Representative Kishore stated his hope that the Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction, to be held in Sendai City in the fall of 2027, will accelerate efforts under the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction.
- Both confirmed their commitment to strengthening their partnership and advancing the global disaster risk reduction agenda.
(Reference1) United Nations for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR)
UNDDR is a United Nations organization established in 2000. It implements various initiatives aimed at building disaster-resilient nations and communities, with the goal of reducing disaster damage and losses and mitigating disaster risks, recognizing disaster risk reduction as an essential element of sustainable development.
(Reference2) “Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (APMCDRR)”
The Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction is an international conference hosted by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR). It brings together ministers responsible for disaster risk reduction from approximately 60 countries in the Asia-Pacific region to discuss disaster prevention measures and other related topics. In May of last year, in Geneva, Switzerland, Minister of State for Disaster Management (at the time) Sakai met with Kishore, UN Secretary-General's Special Representative for Disaster Risk Reduction, and they agreed that the next conference, scheduled for 2027, would be held in Sendai City, Japan.
(Reference3) Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction
The International Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction adopted at the Third United Nations World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction. To facilitate the assessment of progress toward achieving the Framework's goals, seven global targets have been established.