第109回IOM総会　岡庭大使によるステートメント（平成30年11月29日）

　Japan is pleased that the international community demonstrated a collective effort to agree on the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration. Japan is of the view that migration is an issue which requires a global response. We look forward to a successful Intergovernmental Conference in Marrakech.

　Looking to the future, IOM is expected to play an important role in implementation, follow-up and review of the GCM. In this connection, Japan would request IOM to consult with Member States on financial implications associated with the new task. Furthermore, while the new task will result in reinforcing IOM’s policy-related functions, IOM should retain its core competence on the ground, which is the strength of the organization.

　For its part, Japan will continue to promote safe, orderly and regular migration in cooperation with IOM. For example, Japan and IOM have co-organized a workshop in Tokyo every year since 2004 to discuss policies on accepting and integrating foreign nationals into Japanese society. Japan has also promoted cooperation with IOM on the ground. While IOM has been collaborating with JICA and Japanese NGOs in various parts of the world for some time, we welcome the recent trend to collaborate with the Japanese private sector. For example, distribution of solar lanterns produced by Panasonic helped prevent sexual violence and increase employment opportunities for IDPs in Somalia. Success in Somalia led to the solar lanterns supplied to IOM projects in other African countries. We look forward to expanding such innovative collaboration on the ground.

　Let me conclude by congratulating Director General António Vitorino on his assumption of office. His term coincides with both a historic opportunity and a difficult time to address the global challenge. Japan will continue to support IOM as the leading inter-governmental organization on migration.

　I thank you, Mr. Chairman.