Justice Minister Kamikawa addressed the 2nd assembly of the “Parliamentary Association for Making the 2020 Kyoto Congress Successful”

On December 10, 2020, Justice Minister Kamikawa, the President of the “Parliamentary Association for Making the 2020 Kyoto Congress Successful” (the Parliamentary Association) addressed the 2nd assembly of the Parliamentary Association.

The assembly was held in an hybrid format (in-person and online) with the participation of a variety of stakeholders, including the governor of Kyoto Prefecture, Mr. Takatoshi NISHIWAKI, the mayor of Kyoto City, Mr. Daisaku KADOKAWA, the representatives of UN entities and other international organizations, ambassadors and from the business sectors.

Minister Kamikawa highlighted in her opening remarks that the role of multi stakeholders in the effort of criminal justice to realize a society where “No one will be left behind” and achieve the SDGs, which is the overall theme of the Kyoto Congress.

Following her statement, Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Satoshi NAKANISHI, Mr. Daisaku KADOKAWA and Mr. Takatoshi NISHIWAKI delivered words of greeting.

Ms. Ghada Fathi Waly, Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), made a keynote speech, emphasizing the challenges in criminal justice posed by COVID-19 and calling shared commitments of the international society at the Kyoto Congress to address such challenges.

H.E. Mr. Hassan Bin Mohammed Rafei AL-EMADI, Ambassador of Qatar, host country of the previous Congress, conveyed the message that the State of Qatar will cooperate closely with the Japanese government as well as with other stakeholders.

In closing, Mr. Kazuo KITAGAWA, Executive Vice President of the Parliamentary Association, addressed the assembly with his will to fully support the preparation for the Kyoto Congress.