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Substantial progress toward achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) was made, but unsolved issues remain. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) succeeded the MDGs in 2015. In Japan the concept of “Human Security” has been incorporated into its foreign policy since the 1990s and is explicitly stated as the basic concept of Japan's Development Cooperation Charter issued in 2015. Also included in the Charter is Japan's “Proactive Contribution to Peace” policy and national interest, both of which are closely related to the concept of Human Security.
Although not specifically identified in the SDGs, Human Security was described by the UN General Assembly as “the right of people to live in freedom and dignity, free from poverty and despair” in a 2012 resolution. Japan's long-term commitment to Human Security and experience in health and education are two areas in which the country has contributed internationally and which can be put to good use in formulating policies and programs to achieve the SDG targets.
About the author
Shinichi Kitaoka is President of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Visiting Professor of Modern Japanese Politics and Diplomacy at National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS), Executive Director of Research at the Institute for International Policy Studies (IIPS), past President of International University of Japan (IUJ), and Emeritus Professor at the University of Tokyo. He studied at the University of Tokyo (Ph.D. 1976), taught at Rikkyo University (1976–1997) and his alma mater (1997–2004; 2006–2012), and served as Ambassador to the United Nations (2004–2006). Dr. Kitaoka has served on advisory panels for many foreign ministers and prime ministers. He was Acting Chair of the Advisory Panel on the History of the 20th Century and on Japan's Role and the World Order in the 21st Century (2015), the Acting Chair of the Advisory Panel on Reconstruction of the Legal Basis for National Security (2013–2014) and the Chair of The Advisory Panel on National Security and Defense Capabilities (2013). Previous appointments include Chairman of the Japanese scholars in the Japan-China joint study of history (2006–2009) and Chairman of the Committee to investigate the so-called Secret Pacts in the Japan-US Security Treaty (2009–2010). He has published many books and articles in English and Japanese on Japan’s military, diplomacy, party politics, and intellectuals. He received the Imperial Medal with Purple Ribbon in 2011.