Ms. Donna　Lynn Caparas, Treasurer, Crime Prevention Practitioners Association of the Philippines (CPPAP) visited ACPF Headquarters (Akishima City) 16 March, 2018.

【UNAFEI・ICD Entrance Hall. Ms. Caparas (second from right)】

The CPPAP is a renamed organization of the ACPPI (Asia Crime Prevention Philippines Incorporated), which was established in 1994 by UNAFEI alumni. (The ACPPI was sometimes mistaken as another organization which abbreviation was also ACPPI)

The CPPAP and the ACPF have cooperative relationships for more than 20 years.

＜Contributions of the CPPAP＞

→The ACPPI and ACPF Nagoya Branch inaugurated friendship agreement in 1994.

→The CPPAP has been managing for more than 20 years the Phil-Japan Halfway House (PJHH) which was constructed in 1997 through joint cooperation of the Philippine side (CPPAP, NAPOLCOM, DOJ, Correction Bureau, Parole and Probation Administration and others) and the Japan side (Nagoya West Lions Club, ACPF Nagoya Branch, ACPF Headquarters).

→The signing ceremony of the MOA on the administration of the PJHH was conducted with the attendance of 40 Philippine members in Tokyo in September, 2017.

→The CPPAP has close relationship with UNAFEI. The CPPAP accepted the visit of UNAFEI delegation (Director, Professor, Secretariat staff) to PJHH in Mutinlupa and explained the administration to them.

＜Ms. Donna Lynn Caparas＞

Ms. Caparas participated in the 112^th UNAFEI international training course in 1999. During her stay in Tokyo this March, she visited ACPF Headquarters., UNAFEI and the Ministry of Justice

She met with the former UNAFEI professor in charge of the 112^th UNAFEI course (now assistant Vice-Minister of Justice) and former UNAFEI professor (now Assistant to the Director, Rehabilitation Bureau) in the MOJ.

While her visit to UNAFEI in Akishima, she revealed her impression that New UNAFEI is big (because International Cooperation Department is also in the building.) and modernized (International Conference Halls, Wi-Fi). She also inspected the library (50,000books) and Philippine corner shelf, where she took a voluminous Handbook of the Criminal Procedure, and found on the opposite page of the cover letters “donation 30 June 1999 Ms. Caparas”! What a coincidence. She and others were surprised with joy and took pictures with the book.

She joined the welcome party hosted by Mr. Yamashita, Secretary General, ACPF and exchanged opinions on ACPF activities in the evening.

The ACPF gave a press conference on its revised statistical booklet “Japan, How Safe?”.

Date：15:00～15:55, 22 (Thurs.) Feb. 2018

Venue: Japan National Press Club

Participants：10 press reporters

Summary

Mr. Taichi SAKAIYA, President, ACPF, explained the revised edition of the statistical booklet “Japan, How Safe?” for 30 minutes. Mr. SAKAIYA answered questions of three reporters.

Explanation by President SAKAIYA

His briefing lasted 30 minutes in which he explicitly mentioned that Japan is secure, safe, punctual, clean and good will.

Questions from the press

1　Why revised edition now？

To let readers know figures of safe Japan accordingly.

In 2020, Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games will be held. We hope this booklet will be used for overseas travelers and volunteers for the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

This booklet is also an informative item to invite 2025 Osaka International Exposition.

2　What are differences between the first edition and revised one?

• All the statistics are renewed.
• Good will supporters (Civil rights commissioners, Welfare volunteers, Child welfare volunteers) are added.
• Corruption perception Index was displayed in magnification.

3　We would like to receive your essence and principles, if any.

I analyze that Japan headed for strength during Meiji era and before the World War II, economical wealth after the war, and secure and safe society nowadays. However, Japan is now under the strong regulations and short in enjoyment. It causes lack in element of surprise in Japan

4　Mr. SAKAIYA wrote a novel titled “Lack of Oil (inattention)”. What problem is Japan facing?

Japan had problems in shortage of oil at that time. Japan is now suffering from low birth rate. Next generation is our treasure. One of measures against low birth rate is to invite foreigners who are able and faithful, and give the Japanese nationality to those who pass the certificate examinations.

5　It is said that Bureaucrat orientated movement has turned into Political orientated one.  How do you evaluate it?

            On the contrary. Bureaucrats in the Prime Minister Office are active.

６　Then, who are in charge?

I do not know who they are. It is the system of the Bureaucracy. They are in and out every two years. Even if you try to find who and what sections are in charge, this is how I see the situation.

７　Question from an aged journalist

I am a baby boomer after the World War II. I have heard citizens in the same generation commit traffic accidents. How do you think of the measures?

I think automatic driving system will solve the problem. The problem of the system is that the Ministry which has authority on the Wireless Radio Act.

→See Press Conference (Pictures)

So called ACPF Thai Seminar was held in 2013 as its first one (see What is the ACPF?).

ACPF overseas cooperative organization, Thai ACPF kindly responded to our ACPF request to implement programs for Japanese member companies in Bangkok, Thailand.

The leader is Dr. Kittipong Kittayarak.

Dr. Kittipong is a UNAFEI alumnus, and has been invited to UNAFEI as a visiting expert for many times. He served as Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Justice and other high-ranking positions in the Thai government. He is admired as the Champion of Criminal Justice Reform in Thailand. He is now Executive Chairperson of the TIJ (Thailand Institute of Justice).

The TIJ was admitted to join the UN Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme Network of Institutes (so called “PNI”) in 2016, and has been contributing very much to international community by providing international conferences and seminars focusing on the Bangkok Rules (enhancement of treatment for female prisoners and others strategies) and the rule of law and development.

This Thai Seminar is its 5^th one. The previous seminars were coordinated as just half a day seminar. Then a few participants from Japan attended. In this year, the ACPF, TIJ and ACPF Thailand made a program to invite many members to visit Bangkok from Japan ACPF by planning a study tour to criminal justice institutions.

Thanks to such a proposal, we had 19 Japanese members (9 Yokomama branch members and 4 Hiroshima branch members included) to visit the TIJ-ACPF Thailand Seminar.

Eight (8) members of the delegation of Malaysia Crime Prevention Foundation (MCPF) and Royal Malaysia Police, Kuala Lumpur, visited the ACPF Headquarters on 20 Feb. 2018. The delegation also visited UNAFEI.

They traveled to Tokyo to learn from safety in Tokyo for further enhancing criminal justice in Malaysia. The delegation consists of 4 police members headed by Datuk Seri Mazlan Bin Lazim, Commissioner Police, Chief Police Officer of Kuala Lumpur, RMP, and 4 MCPF members headed by Mr. Bok Siew Mun, Chairman.

The delegation received information on UNAFEI activities and Crime Congress to be held at Kyoto in 2020 from Mr. Keisuke SENTA, Director of UNAFEI, and on ACPF activities from Mr. Hiroyuki YOSHIDA, Director of the Programme Management Bureau of the ACPF.

Based on the booklet “JAPAN, how safe” presented by the ACPF, MCPF members asked some critical questions such as:

• Does the Japanese criminal justice system follow Common Law system or Civil Law system?  Japanese prosecutors’ power of investigation seems contradict with the adversary system.
• What is a possible reason of the big number of suicide although Japan has developed in terms of economy and is a safe country as shown in the booklet?

At the end of their visit, MCPF and ACPF members took group photos for the commemoration of their visit in front of the entrance of the UNAFEI building with the United Nations Flag and the National Flag of Japan.

The delegation also made a courtesy call to the Superintendent General of the Metropolitan Police Department, and then visited SECOM to experience its security system during their stay in Japan.

For your reference:

The MCPF is an overseas cooperative organization established in 1993. The ACPF and MCPF have long relationships since the third ACPF World Conference in Malaysia in 1993 in which Prime Minister of Malaysia, Dato’ Seri Dr. Mahatir bin Mohamad delivered Congratulatory Address. The ACPF and MCPF shared their activities and exchanged opinions for possible cooperation in the future.

→See the Third ACPF World Conference in Malaysia