Videos

After the attacks on the U.S. on September 11, 2001, a coalition of the willing mainly led by the U.S. and the U.K. launched Operation Enduring Freedom and attacked the Taliban, which was harboring the mastermind of the September 11 attacks, Osama Bin Laden. After a transitional government, the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan was established in 2003. Since then, the international community has been actively involved in supporting Afghanistan's peace-building efforts.

In November 2001, Japan enacted the Anti-Terrorism Special Measures Law and the Self-Defense Forces (SDF) resupplied U.S. naval vessels in the Indian Ocean. In addition, Official Development Assistance(ODA) projects and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) continued to provide support. However, we are now faced with the prospect that the results of these efforts will be erased.

What has been the result of the international community's involvement in Afghanistan over the past two decades? How has the Taliban, labeled as "terrorists," been transformed? Will the engagement of Iran, Russia, and China lead to a geopolitical realignment of the surrounding region? And how can the international community contribute to the country's peace and stability in the future? We held the webinar in the hope that it would provide an opportunity to think about these questions with experts and practitioners.

[Organizers]

Sasakawa Peace Foundation, "Connectivity and Trust Building in Islamic Civilization" MEXT Grant-in-Aid for Transformative Research Areas (A), Japan Platform (International NGO)

[Program]

Opening Remarks

Dr. Atsushi.Sunami (President, Sasakawa Peace Foundation)

Introduction/Moderator

Dr. Akiko Horiba (Senior Program Officer, Asia Peace Initiatives Department, Sasakawa Peace Foundation)

Presentation

・Prof. Koichiro Tanaka (Professor, Keio University)

・Mr. Tadamichi Yamamoto (Former Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Afghanistan, United Nations, UNAMA)

・Mr. Takeshi Komino (General Secretary, CWS Japan / Co-Chairpersons, Japan Platform)

・H.E. Dr. Shaida Mohammad Abdali (Ambassador, Embassy of Afghanistan in Japan)

Q&A/Moderator

Prof. Masako Ishii (Professor, Rikkyo University /Board Member, Japan Platform)

These cases have not suddenly emerged, having been reported from long before. They became visible recently, but it is too late to respond after it happens. Companies should take actions such as human rights due diligence and remedy through grievance mechanisms in the peacetime. To do so, they should grasp the human rights situation abroad and how they impact the company and the sector as a whole well in advance.

The Sasakawa Peace Foundation (SPF) launched a new project entitled “Promoting Responsible Business Conduct” in October 2020, and began activities such as sharing relevant articles and supporting the establishment of grievance mechanisms in collaboration with a variety of stakeholders. As one of these activities, we commissioned research on human rights risks for Japanese business enterprises in Southeast Asia to experts and professional organizations on-site. In this panel conference, we invited those experts and professional organizations, and shared the results of the research.

It started as a small private organization, but has gradually expanded, and now more than eighty local governments have started counseling services. This April, a new website for men’s counseling, “Otokokoro-net,” was launched with the goal of linking those who wish to receive counseling, make connections, or assist with men’s counseling.　

In this changing society, men are facing an abundance of challenges such as suicide, domestic violence, abuse, as well as power and sexual harassment. However, for men who believe that “men shouldn’t give up easily,” or that “men should be strong,” showing vulnerability by speaking with a counselor can be a highly risky move. Counseling that targets men must take into account the potential for these conflicted feelings and provide a space to think together. Men’s counselors are required to face these particular difficulties facing men in addition to having expert counseling knowledge. In order to develop a culture of counseling for men, Japan Training Seminars for Men’s Counseling have been periodically convened to help men’s counselors gain experience. (In February 2022, the sixth seminar is planned to be held in Osaka sponsored by the Osaka Municipal Gender Equality Center Central in collaboration with the Japan Men’s Counseling Forum.)

How do we define men’s counseling, which has been developed over the past 25 years based on the experience of both consultor and counselor, and where is this type of counseling heading in the future? In this webinar, to commemorate the launch of “Otokokoro-net,” we invited practitioners from inside and outside of Japan to share their knowledge and experience and explore opportunities for healing and harmony through men’s counseling. 　

[Organizers]

Sasakawa Peace Foundation, Japan Men’s Counseling Forum, Osaka Municipal Gender Equality Center Central

[Program]

Opening Remarks

Mr. Itsu Adachi, Executive Director, Sasakawa Peace Foundation

Introduction/Moderator

Dr. Akihiro Ueda, Program Officer, Sasakawa Peace Foundation

　Presentation

・Development and Current Situation of Men's Counseling by Dr. Tomotaka Hamada, Associate Professor, Kyoto Tachibana University

・On-site efforts of Men's Counseling by Mr. Michihito Fukushima, Representative of Directors, Japan Men's Counseling Forum (JMCF)

・Roles of Local Governments for Men's Counseling by Ms. Yoko Tanaka, Leader, Planning and Coordination Division, Osaka City Gender Equality Promotion Foundation

・Men's Counseling in Hong Kong by Mr. Wong Pak Hin Patrick, Registered Social Worker, Caritas Hong Kong

・Men's Counseling in Germany by Mr. Eberhard Schäfer, Co-Founder, Berlin Father’s Center　

Q&A

In addition, discussions on how Japan should respond have just begun. In this webinar, we analyzed the “Coast Guard Law” from the perspective of operation and international law, and discussed its problems and Japan's response.

The third public seminar of this series, "Taiwan Contingency and Japan's Role," covered issues of global interest including China-Taiwan relations, the possibility of a Taiwan contingency, and Japan's potential response. The panelists, which included experts on cross-strait relations, U.S. foreign and security policy, air power and new operational domains (cyberspace and space), and Japanese security legislation, discussed the current situation and future challenges for Japan.

Speakers (in order of presentation, titles omitted):

Yasuhiro Matsuda, Professor, Institute for Advanced Studies on Asia, University of Tokyo

Tsuneo Watanabe, Senior Fellow, The Sasakawa Peace Foundation

Jun Nagashima, Adjunct Instructor, Graduate School of Security Studies, National Defense Academy, Lieutenant General (Retired)

Susumu Nakamura, Senior Visiting Fellow (IINA Editor), The Sasakawa Peace Foundation / Senior Researcher of Keio Research Institute at SFC, Rear Admiral (Retired)

Moderator:

Noboru Yamaguchi, Senior Visiting Fellow (IINA Editor), The Sasakawa Peace Foundation, Professor / International University of Japan, Lieutenant General (Retired)

Mr. Juan Francisco Espinosa, Director of Migración Colombia, who is leading the refugee policy in Colombia, spoke about the "TPSV " (Temporary Protection Statute for Venezuelan Migrants). Experts on global and Asian trends on refugee protection from Asia also joined the webinar to discuss implications to Asia.

[Program]

Initial Welcome:

Dr. Atsushi Sunami, President, SPF

Opening Remarks:

Mr. Santiago Pardo, Ambassador of Colombia to Japan

Keynote Presentation:

Mr. Juan Francisco Espinosa, Director of Migración Colombia (Migratory Authority of Colombia)

Comments:

Dr. Naoko Hashimoto, Associate Professor, Hitotsubashi University

Dr. Nino Viartasiwi, Senior Research Fellow, Resilience Development Initiative

Mr. Rafendi Djamin, Senior Advisor, Human Rights Working Group

Q&A Session

Closing remarks:

Mr. Santiago Pardo, Ambassador of Colombia to Japan