列国議会同盟（Inter-Parliamentary Union）第127回会議　《江田五月 発言原稿》

Statement by EDA Satsuki,
Member of the House of Councillors,
at the 127th Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly

25 Oct. 2012
Quebec City

Introduction
　　　　　Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen!

　　　　　To start my address, I have to express my sincere gratitude to all of you for your warm support and encouragement extended to the Japanese people and Japan, after the Great East Japan Earthquakes which occurred last year. Thank you very much.

　　　　　At first, I would like to congratulate the Parliament of Canada for hosting this meeting here in Quebec. The Province of Quebec has, throughout its history, been home to people of diverse ethnicities, cultures and languages, including those of French, English and others. Indeed, Quebec is synonymous with linguistic and cultural diversity. I understand that the national assembly of Quebec is the first representative body in the world to approve the international agreement concerning the UNESCO Convention on the “Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions”.

　　　　　We live today in this world with two orientations of globalisation and interdependence among nations in every aspect of society, economy and culture. And such a situation has enhanced and deepened human values. And now, “global citizens’ values” has been emerged eventually, such as a freedom of access to information, respect of privacy, rights of minorities and so forth. These values are important components not only of democracy but also and especially, of human dignity and, call for the collective works beyond national frameworks. We are facing with international terrorism, climate change, population increase, food security, and other issues that cannot be handled by any single nation state alone. Worldwide joint endeavour is strongly needed in these fields. Today, I would like to suggest three perspectives in this context.

New International Order through the Relativisation of Sovereignty
　　　　　First, I would like to draw your attention on the changes of sovereignty. The sovereignty of nations has traditionally been seen as absolute, but today it has become relativized greatly, and organisations with power beyond sovereign state have been created, as witnessed by, for example, the European Union, who won the Nobel Peace Prize recently. Human rights issues in individual nations are being placed under the international rule of law through the development of an international legal framework.

Achieving International Protection of Human Rights
　　　　　Second is the establishment of international systems to protect human rights. As advocated in the Charter of the United Nations, respecting human rights is considered today as a common duty for the entire international community. In addition, the recent dramatic advancement of information technology has caused transnational hostility. As for borderless threats, nuclear power disaster, like Fukushima, should not be ignored. These have necessitated the protection of human rights on a global scale as well.

　　　　　To pursue this objective, it is critical not only for each state but also for international systems to be strengthened under the International Covenants on Human Rights. International community should call upon nations to meet with those trans-national standards.

Respect for Diversity based on the Right to individual Self-Determination
　　　　　Thirdly, we have to respect the right to pursue happiness based upon each person’s self-determination. Now, I am very sorry that I have no time to elaborate this point more. Anyway, with the rapid advancement of globalisation today, people are facing with cultural frictions and loss of identity. In this context, it is more crucial than ever before that freedom of individual persons must be fully respected.
　　　　　We must not alienate those who have chosen other values than the accepted ones, if they are based on their sincere belief.
　　　　　I hope that this kind of common understanding is incorporated and implemented, not only in international community but also in all of our national politics. This is the mature parliamentary democracy, and if this meeting leads us to this direction, future generation would recall the 127th assembly as historical.

　　　　　Thank you for your kind attention.