On the occasion of a reception at the Swiss Residence on October 30, the “Friends of Humanitarian Action” project was presented to the heads of mission and representatives of several embassies, members of the House of Councilors, representatives of Japanese ministries, representatives of international organizations in Japan and other stakeholders of different sectors of humanitarian action.
“Friends of Humanitarian Action” is an informal group, whose main objectives are:
- To increase interaction regarding key humanitarian issues between contact persons of relevant Japanese ministries, interested heads of diplomatic missions, humanitarian actors and the private sector.
- To learn from Japan’s firsthand experience in the humanitarian area and in the prevention of catastrophes.
- To increase the visibility of humanitarian actors in Japan, in particular the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.
- To establish a group of natural partners participating together in events related to humanitarian issues.
- To promote international humanitarian law and initiatives of countries and organizations in the humanitarian field.
- To strengthen the sense of community and common values between foreign embassies and Japanese institutions.
- To implement projects and joint initiatives.
The Ambassador of Switzerland to Japan, Jean-François Paroz, presented the background and main orientations of the project. Mr. Otohiko Hori, Director General of the International Department of the Japanese Red Cross Society, and Ms. Rena Igarashi presented the Japanese Red Cross Society’s “International Helping Hand Campaign” and invited the representatives of foreign embassies and other members of the group to support it. A special speaker at the 2017 Red Cross Symposium in Tokyo, Mr. Maciej Polkowski, Head of the ICRC “Health Care in Danger” project in Pakistan then briefed the participants on the main issues related to health care in danger.
