24 June, 19:30
Instituto Italiano Di Cultural Di Tokyo
Japan Platform's Secretary General: Mr. Koji
TAKAMATSU
At the end of Gulf War, the Kurds established a safe heaven in the
northern Iraq. Amid the withdrawal of Iraqi
forces from the northern
provinces in 1992, Iraqi
Kurdistan emerged as an autonomous entity inside Iraq, with
its local government and parliament.
Japan Platform (JPF) conducted its humanitarian relief operation in Iraq including
the Kurdish region since 2002, with JPF member NGOs which implement relief projects
such as mobile-clinic, hygiene education and reconstruction of school building
and so on not only for Kurdish villages but to Arab villages.
JPF is a mechanism created for Japanese NGOs for responding to major
disasters and humanitarian crisis overseas through facilitating cooperation and
coordination among various actors from the various sectors, such as the
government, business community, academic society, private foundations, local
authorities, media, partner agencies etc. JPF aims to contribute to build
a more peaceful world through implementing aid activities for victims of
natural disasters and for sufferers in conflict areas.
Koji
TAKAMATSU joined JPF in November 2002, working as the Secretary General
since 2005. Before joining JPF, he worked for the ministry of foreign affairs
for nearly 10 years. After graduating
from university, he served as a Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteer, UN Volunteer
and Special Assistant for Economic Cooperation Division of Embassy of Japan in Kenya;
during which he was involved in international cooperation and diplomacy. He is also
a visiting associate professor at Kyoto
University.
