on 28 February -
10 March

◆ Francophone African Criminal Justice Seminar

The Francophone African Criminal Justice Seminar FY 2022 was held from 28 February to 10 March 2023 at JICA Tokyo. The theme of the Seminar was “Challenges in investigation and trials of drug crimes and measures to tackle these challenges”
Twenty-six criminal justice practitioners from seven Francophone African countries (namely Burkina Faso, Chad, Cote d'Ivoire, Mali, Mauritania, Niger and Senegal) participated.
Mr. Andrew Munanura (in-person) from the United Nations African Institute for the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders (UNAFRI) in Uganda and Mr. Cheibou Samna Soumana (online) from the International Institute for Justice and the Rule of Law (IIJ) in Malta attended as visiting experts. Mr. ONISHI Masahito (in-person) also　attended as a lecturer from the Narcotics Control Department, Kanto-Shinetsu Regional Bureau of Health and Welfare, Japan.
In addition to the country presentations, participants worked in group workshops to further discuss key topics related to the main theme. Each group presented the outcome of their discussions on common challenges among participating countries and their recommended actions. After each presentation, views and opinions were actively exchanged among the participants.

Group photo at the Ministry of Justice

Presentation by Group A

Presentation by Group B

Presentation by Group C

Group photo at the closing ceremony

on 1 - 6 March

The joint study with the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste on the treatment of offenders and the reform of prisons has successfully concluded.
From 1 to 6 March 2023, UNAFEI invited 6 government officials from the Ministry of Justice and penal institutions of Timor-Leste for a Joint Study with Timor-Leste on Treatment of Offenders and Prison Reform. The Timorese delegation was led by Mr. Delfio Soares Alves, National Director of Prison System and Social Reintegration, Ministry of Justice of Timor-Leste. The main theme of this joint study was to strengthen the functions of correctional facilities in Timor-Leste by learning about the efforts of correctional facilities and the treatment of offenders in Japan, and an overview of Japan's correctional system was introduced. In particular, Japan's knowledge and efforts regarding treatment programmes and prison work in correctional facilities were introduced. Active discussions were held on the introduction of guidance on violence prevention in correctional facilities in Timor-Leste based on the knowledge gained through this joint study.

Courtesy call to Mr. HANAMURA Hirofumi, Director-General of the Correction Bureau, MOJ

Lecture by Mr. TAKIURA Masashi,
Assistant Director of the Juvenile Treatment Division, Correction Bureau, MOJ

Study visit to the Tama Juvenile Training School

Closing ceremony

on 13 - 14 February

UNAFEI took part in the second Criminal Justice Forum for Asia and the Pacific (Crim-AP)

UNAFEI took part in the second Crim-AP, which was held over two days from 13 to 14 February 2023.
The Crim-AP is a platform organized by the Government of Japan and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) to enhance international cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region by sharing information about each country’s legal frameworks and practices.
The forum also strengthened the network of regional practitioners as one of the initiatives of the implementation of the Kyoto Declaration, which was adopted at the 14th United Nations
Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (the Kyoto Congress) held in 2021.

During the plenary session on the first day of the forum, Mr. Taro Morinaga, Director of UNAFEI, gave a statement in which he introduced UNAFEI's efforts to implement the Kyoto Declaration, including international training courses for criminal justice practitioners around the world on crime prevention and treatment of offenders, and the international youth training course to promote awareness among younger generations about the importance of building a safe and inclusive society.

On the second day, in the Working Group on Offender Treatment and Rehabilitation (WG-OTR), Ms. Junko Irie, Deputy Director of UNAFEI, introduced some of UNAFEI’s specific activities including technical assistance to Cambodia and the Philippines in community corrections, as well as PNI events where technical assistance on reducing reoffending was discussed.

Discussion at WG-OTR

In addition to learning about the systems and initiatives in each country, it was a meaningful opportunity for face-to-face exchanges with participants from overseas.

With Malaysian delegates

on 9 - 14 February

The Study Tour for Kenyan Officials has successfully concluded.

From 9 to 14 February 2023, we invited 9 government officials from Kenya to UNAFEI for a study tour on the community-based rehabilitation of children in conflict with the law.
The Kenyan delegation was led by the Hon. Lady Justice Teresia Mumbua Matheka,Chairperson of the National Council on the Administration of Justice Standing Committee on the Administration of Justice for Children.
The study tour included lectures by the police, a juvenile classification home, an employment support organization and a UNAFEI professor, as well as a meeting with hogoshi, who are community volunteers involved in rehabilitation of offenders. During the discussion sessions, the participants engaged in lively discussions on approaches to enhance delinquency prevention and rehabilitation of children in conflict with the law in Kenya, drawing on the information presented during the lectures.

Meeting with hogoshi

Discussion

Closing Ceremony

on 17 February

RTI-SPP Exchange Programme (Japan Session) was held in February 2023.

A scene of the programme

Courtesy call to Mr. SHIBUYA Hiroyuki, Director of Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office Tachikawa Branch

Discussion

Group photo at UNAFEI

on 6 February

The 180th International Senior Seminar concluded.

	Individual Presentation		Lecture by TOMITA Satoko(Director of the International Affairs Office, Headquarters of the JLSC)

	Group discussion		Presentation by each group

	Courtesy call to Mr. KADOYAMA Hiroaki, State Minister of Justice.		Closing Ceremony

The 180th International Senior Seminar concluded.

on 27 January

The 41st Public Lecture on Criminal Justice Policy was held on January 2023.
Please see this page.

Announcement for the "Public Lecture on Criminal Justice Policy" (January 2023)

UNAFEI, in collaboration with the Japan Criminal Policy Society (JCPS), the Asia Crime Prevention Foundation (ACPF), will organize the Public Lecture on Criminal Justice Policy on 27 January, 15:00-18:00 JST (6:00-9:00 GMT), inviting distinguished lecturers from the International Criminal Court and the Probation and Aftercare Service of Kenya.

For more details and registration for the event, please see the attached flyer.

	flyer

flyer

on 13 January

The 180th International Senior Seminar commenced.

● Main Theme : “Promoting Legal Aid for Offenders and Victims”
● Duration : From 13 January to 6 February 2023

The 180th International Senior Seminar commenced.

● Main Theme : “Promoting Legal Aid for Offenders and Victims”
● Duration : From 13 January to 6 February 2023