We Are Tomodachi Autumn 2017

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7of orchestrating action on growing challenges to peace and security. These challenges include the return of rivalries and tensions reminiscent of the Cold War, as well as new risks posed by non-state actors and terrorist organizations with regional and global influence. UN forums can also help the world to address rapid technological and scientific innovations with the potential to bring enormous prosperity, but also to upend the international security environment if they are weaponized or harnessed with malicious intent. We within the United Nations must act to prevent conflict while ensuring that our peace operations can protect civilians, restore stability and sustain peace more effectively. We must also redouble our efforts to advance disarmament causes—the oldest mandate of the United Nations, agreed upon by its first General Assembly resolution in 1946. Arms control, non-proliferation and disarmament efforts build confidence, reduce tensions and contribute to political solutions to conflicts.Japan, with its proven record in multilateral affairs, has a central role to play in all of these efforts. On behalf of the UN Secretariat, I propose three ways in which Japan may be able to strengthen its support even further for the United Nations and, by extension, the entire international community.First, Japan could expand its role as a bridge builder at the United Nations, bringing together various perspectives and positions on difficult issues. For the United Nations to work effectively, member states must find common approaches to tackle global challenges. In today's difficult political environment, a group of trusted countries is needed to help narrow differences and find areas of agreement. Japan enjoys global respect and appreciation for its moderate and peace-seeking foreign policies over the past seven decades, coupled with its long-running, sincere efforts to support development around the world. Its trust and credibility among UN members could prove to be a great asset in supporting a well-functioning UN system. Second, Japan could assume a greater leadership role in the potentially difficult endeavor of upholding or restoring the universal values that the United Nations seeks to advance: human rights, the rule of law, and various international norms and instruments that the world community has labored to establish over generations—in some areas longer than a century. The Middle East has seen brazen violations of both international humanitarian law and the universal taboo against chemical weapons use, and these are just two worrying examples of the possible erosion of international norms. An immediate and vigorous effort to stop further erosion is essential. Japan has always acted in a rigorous and exemplary manner at the United Nations to uphold the rule of law, and the world could only benefit from further Japanese efforts in this regard.Third, we hope Japan will strongly support the institutional reform efforts initiated and spearheaded by UN Secretary-General Guterres. As the world goes through profound changes, the United Nations will have to change with it. The reforms we must undertake might be at times painful for UN staff and delegates, but they are necessary if multilateralism and the United Nations are to remain relevant in the twenty-first century. Such reform efforts are important to ensure that the United Nations system will not only perform more efficiently in today’s changing world, but also deliver on its goals more effectively. The United Nations should become more innovative and creative, while also learning to work more effectively with the private sector, civil society actors, and young people. Japan played a key role in past UN reform efforts, and we hope it can again lead and support us in this latest reform process.The United Nations is by no means perfect, but it is evident that global challenges require global engagement and a collective effort. We at the United Nations are certain that we can achieve a better, more prosperous and more secure world for all—if we can work closely with member states such as Japan.