JCCP Presentation Held on "From Arms to Peace: Rebuilding Afghanistan": JCCP is an independent NPO that initiates conflict prevention programs overseas and in Japan.(JCCP, japan, NPO, NGO, conflict, prevention, diplomacy, resolution, diplomacy, dialogue, war, peace, relations, NPO, human rights)

It is said that the “culture of war” is ingrained in Afghanistan and its people as a result of seemingly relentless invasions by other countries and a civil war that has been ongoing for a very long time.

In March 2002, the Japan Center for Conflict Prevention (JCCP) established an office in Kabul, Afghanistan and has since been involved in vocational training projects for ex-combatants in the country. In particular, these vocational projects focus on supporting and rehabilitating ex-combatants in an effort to build and maintain a culture of peace.

On September 13th, 2004, JCCP Tokyo held a seminar on the theme of “From Arms to Peace: Rebuilding Afghanistan” at the National Olympic Memorial Youth Center in Tokyo. The seminar featured Mr. Hiroya Takagi, JCCP Acting Representative in Afghanistan, and Ms. Akiko Kobayakawa, from the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS). Almost 60 people with various background participated in the seminar.

Mr. Hiroya Takagi (JCCP Afghanistan) and Ms. Akiko Kobayakawa (UNOPS)

Mr. Takagi’s presentation was a very comprehensive one which discussed a variety of topics including the present situation in Afghanistan, risk management, Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) in the country; and finally JCCP vocational training projects to reintegrate ex-combatants into their communities. Ms. Kobayakawa reported on DDR activities presently being conducted by the United Nations in in Afghanistan, specifically concerning UNOPS and United Nations Mine Action for Peace (UNMACA).

Although the presentation lasted about 2 hours, members of the audience asked numerous and useful questions concerning the present situation in Afghanistan and JCCP projects in the country. It was an invaluable opportunity to get an up-to-date picture of what is happening on the ground in conflict-torn Afghanistan.

To view Mr. Takagi’s detailed PowerPoint Presentation online (as a PDF file), please click on this link: From Arms to Peace: Rebuilding Afghanistan (2.2MB). As Mr. Takagi’s presentation was given in Japanese, the PowerPoint presentation is also in Japanese; if there are any queries concerning JCCP’s activities in Afghanistan, please contact JCCP Tokyo by email at [email protected].

Update: 2004/10/13