On 26 July, on behalf of the Japan Parliamentarians Federation for Population (JPFP), Hon. Kikawada Hitoshi, Secretary General of JPFP, submitted an official request to Hon. Tsuge Yoshifumi, State Minister for Foreign Affairs, to increase Japan's FY2025 contributions to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF). As the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD, or Cairo Conference), a historic turning point for population issues, celebrates its 30th anniversary this year, Hon. Kikawada explained that the needs for sexual reproductive health (SRH) are becoming more diverse and serious, and that despite the urgent need to address SRH issues such as gender-based violence (GBV), child marriage and female genital mutilation (FGM), the funding is significantly lacking. He also noted that SRH is essential in the context of Women, Peace, and Security (WPS), which is strongly promoted by Japan under the initiative of Foreign Minister H.E. Kamikawa Yoko, and stressed the importance of supporting UNFPA and IPPF, which are main actors in this area.

Ms. Narita Eiko, Chief of UNFPA Representation Office in Japan, and Ms. Fukuda Tomoko, Regional Director of IPPF East & Southeast Asia and Oceania Region (ESEAOR), who were also in attendance, emphasized the critical importance of the Japanese government's support as both organizations address childbirths and unwanted pregnancies during crises and accelerate progress on the SDGs, with many countries lagging behind. In response to JPFP’s request, Hon. Tsuge expressed his appreciation for JPFP's long-standing activities, and said that he fully recognized the importance of SRH and that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would continue to make positive efforts to resolve SRH and population issues.

■Ministry of Foreign Affairs website:
Courtesy call on Hon. Tsuge, State Minister for Foreign Affairs, by Hon. Kikawada, Secretary General of the Japan Parliamentarians Federation for Population (Japanese only)