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UPF-Japan Forum Discusses Sustainable Development
Written by UPF-Japan
Wednesday, July 15, 2015
Tokyo, Japan—On July 15, 2015, UPF-Japan held its 24th Peace Diplomats Forum on the theme, “Post-2015 Development Agenda and Decent Work: Key for Sustainable Development.”
Twenty-eight diplomats from 24 countries and guests from Japan, including parliamentarians, diplomats, journalists, professors, and representatives of civil society, attended the event, the second in a series this year to commemorate the 70th Anniversary of the UN.
The forum began with welcoming remarks by the master of ceremonies, Mr. Shigenari Kato, secretary general of UPF-Japan’s Peace Diplomats Forum. Amb. Tetsuya Endo, former ambassador in charge of Japan-North Korea Normalization Talks and a representative advisor to the Peace Diplomats Forum, gave opening remarks, saying this year was the final year of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and that “decent work” is central to the post-2015 UN development agenda, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Hon. Yoshinori Ohno, Japan’s former minister of defense, underscored the importance of international cooperation to end wars and said, “Peace power comes from human relations, [such as] this wonderful meeting [of the Peace Diplomats Forum],” in his congratulatory remarks.
Ms. Keiko Kamioka, director of the International Labour Organization (ILO) Office for Japan, gave the keynote speech, in which she introduced the work of the ILO, a UN agency founded on the belief that “universal and lasting peace can only be established if it is based on social justice.” She also added that work provides people with livelihood, pride and human dignity, and that there are four pillars of decent work: job creation, worker’s rights, social protection, and social dialogue. She especially emphasized the importance of dialogue among governments, employers and workers to facilitate a solution to reducing poverty and fair globalization, and recognized the value UPF places on dialogue beyond borders for peace.
She also introduced the ILO’s Youth Employment for Sustainable Development (YESD) project. With support from the governments of Japan and Kenya, in April 2014, the ILO launched YESD to empower youth in Kenya to create and develop micro and small enterprises, and trained and engaged them in renovating and maintaining roads using “Do-nou” Japanese traditional technology, which involves using gunny bags to repair and maintain damaged sections of roads.
A discussion between the participants and speakers followed, which was moderated by Mr. Masahisa Hayashi, professor emeritus of Waseda University. After the event, all the participants enjoyed refreshments and speaking with one another.
To learn more about the Youth Employment for Sustainable Development (YESD) project, click here.
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