Statement by H.E. Ambassador Yamazaki Kazuyuki, Permanent Representative of Japan to the International Organizations in Geneva on the occasion of the UNHCR Pledging Conference (2 December 2020)
2020/12/4
On 2 December 2020, Ambassador Yamazaki Kazuyuki made a statement at the UNHCR Pledging Conference. The outlines of the statement are as follows:
【the UNHCR Pledging Conference】
- I would like to congratulate on the 70th Anniversary of UNHCR. I would also like to congratulate Mr. High Commissioner on your re-election for a second-term. Japan is deeply grateful for your tireless dedication, especially in this challenging year. We are delighted to continue working with you.
- While Japan’s budgetary cycle does not allow for us to make a pledge for 2021 at this timing, I nevertheless would like to express our unwavering commitment to support UNHCR.
- Japan contributed more than 120 million US dollars in total to UNHCR this year. On top of our core contribution, we provided about 24 million US dollars for COVID-19 response, and more than 37 million US dollars for emergency operations in Lebanon, Mozambique, Syria, the Sahel region, and the host countries of displaced Venezuelans. Japan has recently decided to allocate about 1.2 million US dollars to the SSAR support platform from our core contribution this year.
- The socio-economic impact of the pandemic has compounded the vulnerable situation of refugees. Japan appreciates UNHCR’s proactive efforts to strengthen partnerships with the International Financial Institutions, which I believe, have the potential to play a bigger role in improving the self-reliance and resilience of refugees and host communities.
- Japan welcomes the “Blueprint for Joint Action” by UNHCR and UNICEF as a way of promoting the humanitarian and development nexus. Japan will continue to collaborate with UNHCR and developing partners to advance the nexus approach in support of education and livelihoods, among other areas.
- We cannot overcome the pandemic without containing the virus across the world. Japan fully supports fair access to the vaccines under the principle of “leaving no one behind.” We have to give consideration to the needs of refugees when the vaccines are available.
- We must stay the course to overcome the pandemic in 2021 and beyond. Japan, with a strong commitment to “burden- and responsibility- sharing,” continues to support UNHCR through flexible and prompt funding and will fulfill its international humanitarian responsibilities as a close partner of UNHCR.