On 12 December 2024, the United Nations University held a signing ceremony for two new memorandums of understanding — one with the Japan-United States Sister City Association (JUSSCA) and one with Guardian Girls International (GGI).
The UNU / JUSSCA memorandum of understanding (MoU) will focus on strengthening people-to-people connections to foster mutual understanding and respect between Japan and the United States at the subnational level, and to promote and advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through JUSSCA programmes and collaborative events with UNU.
UNU and GGI will work together towards empowering women and community leaders globally to enable them to reach their full potential, while contributing to gender equality, ending gender-based violence and violence against women, and promoting women's empowerment.
Speaking about the UNU partnership with JUSSCA, UNU Rector Tshilidzi Marwala remarked: "This is a very important MoU because we live at a time when friendships and partnerships are becoming a rare commodity. The problems that we face — problems around climate change, peace and security, and emerging technologies such as AI — are issues that require us to cultivate friendships. From UNU's point of view, the Japan-United States Sister City Association relationships are critical. We know that these great cities also have great universities. We must collaborate so we can tackle these difficult issues together and build a sustainable and peaceful world where absolutely no one is left behind."
Speaking about the UNU partnership with GGI, Rector Marwala, emphasized: "As you know, SDG 5 focuses on achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls. I am very excited about this partnership because to achieve our gender-related goals we must continue to educate ourselves and be persistent. There is still a lot of work to do, but together, as partners, we can achieve SDG 5."
Mr. Shin Koyamada, Chairman of JUSSCA and CEO of GGI, highlighted: "This [UNU / JUSSCA] partnership will strengthen people's ties at all levels — culturally, economically and educationally. We are looking forward to working with UNU and to hosting an event with mayors and governors from Japanese and US sister cities."
Speaking on the UNU / GGI MoU, Ms. Nia Lyte, President of Guardian Girls International, commented: “To eradicate and end gender-based violence is one of our top priorities and we are so happy to partner with the United Nations University to empower women and youth across Japan and all over the world to do this.”
Mr. Koyamada further commented: "Gender-based violence is an international human rights violation. Yet, it's happening everywhere across the world. It's important to raise the issue of what’s really happening to our own societies in every country. We are very honoured to partner with UN University. I am very excited to do a series of events in Tokyo and across Japan and elsewhere so that we can empower women around the world and address these important issues."
