赤十字国際委員会（ICRC）総裁とのMOC署名式（オンライン）におけるスピーチ
2023.06.15
President Ms. Mirjana Spoljaric, colleagues of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC),
It is a great honor for me to sign the Memorandum of Cooperation between the ICRC and JICA. This groundbreaking MOC is a first big step towards our further collaboration to support the most vulnerable people in need and to make progress on strengthening the humanitarian-development-peace nexus (HDP nexus) around the world.
In the context of the ongoing compounded crises, strengthening the HDP nexus has become even more important. New conflicts continue to erupt and long-term forced displacements endure across the world, placing people’s human security increasingly under threat. Moreover, recent data on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) indicates backsliding.
In these challenging circumstances, I believe that our collaboration will maximize our respective institutions’ strengths to deliver support to vulnerable people, and pave the way for lasting peace. I would like to elaborate on 3 points regarding the significance of our complementary partnership.
First, our collaboration will increase the speed and effectiveness of our emergency response. In my view, in the past several years JICA has become more agile in responding to crises. For example, we rapidly dispatched comprehensive support to Turkey following the recent massive earthquake, and to Ukraine in the wake of the Russian invasion. ICRC has also established a rapid operation system while utilizing its locally-based networks, and has excellent logistic capabilities. This collaboration will enable JICA to deliver goods and equipment in a more timely manner. JICA is continuously striving to streamline our procedures, so that we can be more responsive and effective in new situations.
Second, ICRC's broader, locally-based networks will enable us to reach more people in need. Although JICA currently faces difficulties operating in countries with severe conflicts or challenges in our diplomatic relationships, ICRC supports all stakeholders, and establishes connections among various actors to provide assistance to people in the most difficult situations. From that perspective, JICA can expand targeted support to societies and people worldwide through our collaboration.
Third, our collaboration will increase our collective ability to support our partner countries throughout the transition from immediate humanitarian support to development and peacebuilding for long-term consolidated stability. In the Mindanao Island of the Philippines, for example, JICA has supported the Bangsamoro Transitional Authority to strengthen their capacity through their efforts to build lasting peace by providing a peace dividend. In January, I was given the opportunity to deliver a speech at the Bangsamoro Transitional Authority Parliament as the first foreigner to do so, and they expressed their gratitude for JICA's ceaseless cooperation with them to date. I hope we can make further contribution to smooth transitions in other countries from humanitarian intervention to development and reconstruction with our expertise and knowledge.
To conclude, by combining the ICRC’s strong field presence and operational capabilities with JICA’s long-term commitment to development and peacebuilding, I believe that our collaboration will be even more impactful in creating resilient societies and human security for all.
Thank you very much for your kind attention.
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