News

UNIFEM Opens Liaison Office in Sakai City, Japan

Date: 29 October 2009

UNIFEM opened a liaison office in Sakai City, Japan, on 29 October. The office will represent UNIFEM to the Government of Japan, relate with think-tanks, NGOs, academia, media and the diplomatic community in the country, and share information about UNIFEM’s work.

The liaison office in Sakai City is established along the lines of UNIFEM liaison offices in Brussels and Madrid. It is UNIFEM’s first donor liaison office in Asia and builds on the efforts of the National Committee for UNIFEM in Japan, already present in Sakai City.

At the opening ceremony, UNIFEM Executive Director Inés Alberdi expressed gratitude to the local authorities in Sakai City for their generous contribution and continuing support, which had made the endeavour possible. “This new liaison office in Sakai City will play a vital role in ensuring UNIFEM’s long-term presence in Japan and to attract greater support, engagement and visibility for work on advancing women’s rights and empowerment around the world,” Ms. Alberdi said.

Mayor Osami Takeyama welcomed the presence of the first international organization in Sakai City. “The establishment of the UNIFEM liaison office has a significant meaning for our city. With this milestone, we continue to strive for a gender-equal society,” Mayor Takeyama said.

Katsuya Okada, the Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs, also welcomed the opening of the office in a message on this occasion. “I sincerely wish that the UNIFEM Japan liaison office, together with the National Committee, which was established in 1992 to support UNIFEM activities, will enhance your contribution to the protection and promotion of women’s rights in Japan as well. Japan is committed to continue our cooperation with UNIFEM which has already lasted 30 years,” stated the Foreign Minister in his message.

The specific responsibilities of the liaison office in Sakai City will be partnership-building, advocacy and donor relations with the Government of Japan and other partners, including the business community. The office will also explore opportunities for strengthening partnerships with other United Nations entities and coordination mechanisms in Japan.

UNIFEM Executive Director Inés Alberdi (second to the right) at the opening of the liaison office in Sakai City, Japan, with the Mayor of Sakai City, Mr. Osami Takeyama (centre), and Ambassador Gert J. Grobler from the Embassy of South Africa in Tokyo (far right). (Photo: UNIFEM)