2024 News – Academic Council on the United Nations System Tokyo Office

Professor Motoyoshi YOSHIKAWA, former ambassador to the United Nations, urges Japan to use the United Nations for national interests instead of idealizing it.

2024-04-22

After World War II, Japan joined the United Nations with high hopes and ideals. Now, however, disappointment is spreading over the UN’s dysfunction. Professor Motoyoshi YOSHIKAWA, former ambassador to the United Nations, urges Japan to use the United Nations for national interests instead of idealizing it.

For more details, please refer to the article in Gakushikai Bulletin No. 9 (2024-II) by clicking here. (22/4/2024)

A former UN Assistant Secretary-General, Mr. Bill Paton, asserts that the war in Gaza lays bare, once again, the frightful arbitrariness of international justice.

2024-04-21

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A former UN Assistant Secretary-General, Mr. Bill Paton, asserts that the war in Gaza lays bare, once again, the frightful arbitrariness of international justice. International rule of law has always been about rule by great powers. If we want a more just and peaceful world, developing countries – constituting the global majority – must stand up and demand one law for all.

Please click here for his full paper. (21/4/202)

Ms. Akiko Noda, Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations and Director of the Crisis Bureau of the United Nations Development Programme, shared her views with the Japanese Parliamentary Committee of the World Federation.

2024-04-05

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Ms. Akiko Noda explained that UNDP has always been engaged in field-based projects before, during, and after conflicts, as well as before and after natural disasters, listening to and consulting with people, governments, and civil society on their concerns, and working together to create solutions for further development.

For more information click here (5/4/2024)

Sukehiro Hasegawa, special professor at Kyoto University of Art, talks about “The Difficulties of Establishing Free and Fair Elections” (13/3/2024)

2024-03-13

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It’s human nature we need to address and control to prevent conflict and war, says Hasegawa in his conversation with Rector Marwala of the UN University held on 31 August 2023. Personal desire and lust for power and wealth are the root causes of conflict that must be controlled. Please click here for video recording. (13/3/2024)

International Organization for Migration (IOM) Director General Amy E. Pope met with Japanese parliamentarians. (27/2/2024)

2024-02-27

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Amy E. Pope, Director General of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), explained IOM’s latest activities at a discussion meeting with members of the National Diet of Japan from both the ruling and opposition political parties, organized by the Japanese Parliamentary Committee for World Federation. The participating Diet members asked for an explanation of the differences between the roles of IOM and UNHCR. They also pointed out the challenges in accepting more foreigners in Japan. For more information on what was discussed at this meeting, please click here. (27/2/2024)

The Embassy of Kosovo hosted a ceremony to celebrate 16 years of Kosovo independence and 15 years of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Kosovo and Japan. (20/2/2024)

2024-02-20

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Dr. Arbenita Sopaj, a member of the Board of Directors of the Global Peacebuilding Association of Japan (GPAJ) the Special Assistant to the Ambassador of Kosovo and Mr. Keitoku Ikegami, a member of the GPAJ, acted as Masters of the Ceremony of the Independence Day and 15 th year of Diplomatic Relations Kosovo- Japan celebration hosted by the Embassy of Kosovo in Japan. Ambassador Dr. Sabri Kiçmari of the Republic of Kosovo spoke to the diplomats and officials of the Japanese government who participated in the Independence Day reception held at Hotel Okura in Tokyo on February 20, 2024. (20/2/2024)

Discussion online on January 12, 2024 about a world in need of a new paradigm for the future of global governance (5/2/2024)

2024-02-05

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Georgios Kostakos, Yasuhiro Ueki, and Stephen Kinloch-Pichat joined President José Ramos-Horta of Timor-Leste in discussing the world in need of a new paradigm for the future of global governance. Please click here for the full report of the online meeting held on 12 January 2024. (5/2/2024)

President José Ramos-Horta stated the Security Council should be expanded including the numbers of both permanent and non-permanent members. (01/02/2024)

2024-02-01

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In an online discussion meeting organized by the Kyoto Peacebuilding Center and supported by the Peacebuilding Association of Japan and ACUNS Tokyo Office held on 12 January, President José Ramos-Horta called for reforming the Security Council to meet the traditional and new challenges posed to Humanity, particularly by Artificial Intelligence by expanding the numbers of permanent and non-permanent members to overcome the legacy of the Cold War. Ambassador Shinyo found it necessary to abolish the permanent membership in the long run and create a new forum for cooperation not only between the Great Powers but also between the so-called global or middle-power countries and the Global South. Mr. Chikvaidze suggested a major restructuring to include G20 members and the African Union in the UN Security Council. Please see the details of their views by clicking here.

Franz Baumann “What to do to Stop the Earth Melts Down” (06/01/2024)

2024-01-06

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Franz Baumann, the new ACUNS President, suggests that while the climate crisis is, in fact, a fossil fuel crisis, the old mantra that mitigating global heating can be achieved without cost, inconvenience, or change is fading. Whatever Big Oil’s rearguard actions, the open question is: Before the climate tips, will whatever is politically possible prove to be ecologically sufficient, or will the ecologically necessary miraculously become politically possible? The answer is if only that plan from Rio would be resuscitated. Please click here for his full article.