[NEWS] 防衛省主催「第2回 国際平和協力基礎講習」 -国連平和活動の動向と課題- (2012年1月30日)
On January 30, 2012, Professor Hasegawa delivered a three-hour lecture on the theme of “The Challenges of UN Peace Operations” during the second session of the Basic Training Course on International peace Cooperation held at the Ministry of Defense in Tokyo. At this lecture, 44 members of the Japan Self-defense Forces attended the lecture. One third of the participants had been engaged in peacekeeping operations. Professor Hasegawa explained about the transformation of UN PKO operations over the last sixty years and the challenges posed on the United Nations peacekeepers in terms of carrying out their mandates and in protecting civilians. He referred to cases of severe human rights violations and genocides that occurred in Somalia, Rwanda, and Bosnia. During the second part of his lecture, he explained the system of UN Security Council and the process of establishing peace missions and the efforts made to achieve integration of civilian, police and military components as well as coordination between humanitarian and security activities. At the end of the lecture, Professor Hasegawa emphasized the need for peacekeepers to understand fully the mentality and mindsets of national leaders and local people. And also, as former Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General, Professor Hasegawa mentioned that contributions Japan and Japan Self-Defense Forces had been making in assisting post-conflict countries to carry out the rehabilitation of their communities and infrastructure facilities. Following his lecture, Professor Hasegawa responded to several questions asked by the participants. (Eri Iijima)