Farewell Speech
165th International Senior Seminar“Juvenile Justice and the United Nations Standards and Norms”
By: Alessandra Charbel Janiques REBOUCAS
State Prosecutor
Office of the Prosecution in the Protection Childhood and Youth in Juvenile Justice in
SAMAMBAIA/DF, BrazilYour Excellencies,
Mr. SENTA, Keisuke, Director of UNAFEI,
Mr. MORINAGA, Taro, Deputy Director of UNAFEI,
Honorable Members of the Diplomatic Corps,
Faculty and Staff of UNAFEI,
JICA Staff members,
Distinguished Guests,
Fellow Participants,
Ladies and Gentlemen,1

It is time to say goodbye; it is time to say ‘SAYONARA’!
First of all, I would like to express how deeply honored I am to be standing here today, to bedelivering this farewell speech.
Representing all of the participants in this seminar carries three strong challenges for me. One,
it is difficult to describe in a few words all our feelings about Japan during these entire five weeks: theJapanese people, culture, natural beauty, social environment are very rich and unique – impossible toforget!

Two, it is very tough to say goodbye to ones we know could become great friends; toindividuals we would always enjoy being close to, but knowing that, in most cases, half of the world isin between. Three, which is the most difficult, is that I’m not sure whether or not I am able to express
enough gratitude and acknowledgement to the ones that made this experience possible.
So, here I stand, not because I am the best among all of the participants - which I do not intend
to be. The truth is that each and every one could not have accomplished this training without all of you– all of us together; not only without the other fellow participants, but, especially, the idealizers,organizers, directors, professors, faculty and staff members of UNAFEI and JICA. The experience andthe things we have learned together truly shaped and opened our minds to becoming better persons
than we were before.

Ladies and gentleman,
It is time to say goodbye; it is time to say ‘SAYONARA’!
Let me refresh your memories …
The professional, yet kind, reception of the JICA staff was a precious relief after so many hours
or even days of airports and airplanes. And then, another chapter began: UNAFEI. We were received
by the directors, the staff and the professors with not only big smiles on their faces, but also with anamazing salute (waving at us) from outside of the building, despite the cold weather. We immediately
felt the warming welcome and the anxiety instantly turned into a comfortable thought: well, for the next
30 days this place might become our ‘home’ (not a hotel). In a couple of days, UNAFEI surely becamemy ‘home away from home, as described in the informative material; before, when I read this phraseback in December, I just couldn’t understand its meaning. Now I know, it’s a matter of feeling!
As part of the programme, we had lectures from experienced UNAFEI professors, Japaneseauthorities and visiting experts from South Africa, the USA, Italy, TIJ (Thailand Institute of Justice) and2

HEUNI. We also had the chance to share the reality of our systems through individual presentations
and group workshops.
We were given the opportunity to visit many institutions, including the Supreme Court, the Tokyo
Probation Office and Family/District Courts; on our study trip, we visited the Hiroshima High Public
Prosecutors Office, a halfway house and Kyoto Juvenile Classification Home and Medical Juvenile
Training School. We were received by high-ranking authorities of the Japanese Justice System, suchas the Minister and Vice-Minister of Justice and the Superintending Prosecutor of the Hiroshima High
Public Prosecutors Office.
At this point, we wish to highlight our thanks to all the authorities that opened their institutions toreceive us and to all the government officials who provided guidance and assistance during our visits.
We had social gatherings and receptions with the Vice Minister of Justice, VPOs, UNAFEIAlumni and the Asia Crime Prevention Foundation Members.
We especially extend our kind thanks to the VPOs, who shared their experiences with us here
at UNAFEI and also dedicated one entire day to kindly show their community site and to receive us in
their homes. Also, our sincere thanks to the ACPF, not only because of the fancy reception and of,perhaps, providing the funniest moment of our trip (the time we had to introduce ourselves in Japanesefrom the stage in front of a large audience; you can’t imagine what came out!), but especially becauseof the importance of its work for crime prevention and more effective criminal justice policies andpractices.
From Hiroshima we (and all humankind) learned that there must be no space in our hearts forrevenge – only for peace –, that hope must never be lost and that it is always time to rebuild.
Indeed, we had so many unforgettable moments …

Ladies and Gentleman
It is time to say goodbye; it is time to say ‘SAYONARA’ now to Lounge B …. to all the gathering,laughing, singing, dancing ….
I really enjoyed karaoke; I guess we all did. As a wonderful surprise, we saw that DirectorSenta san can sing great songs; that Deputy Director Morinaga san plays the guitar and sings
wonderfully; that Professor Hirano san loves the song “We are the world” and that we love joining him.
So many fun moments!
3

The table tennis tournament was a blast! I never thought I liked ping pong so much!
These memories are stories to be told to our children’s children!

Ladies and Gentleman
It is time to say goodbye; it is time to say ‘SAYONARA’
To Director Senta san and Deputy Director Morinaga san, who, despite their busy schedules,
have always been with us. In addition to Director Senta san’s skills in table tennis, karaoke and evendancing, he has many professional skills in the international and legal area, certainly with a great levelof ability and intelligence!
Thank you to all the professors – essential to the success of this programme. Professor Hiranosan, our programming officer, and Professor Watanabe san, deputy programming officer, from thebottom of our hearts, we don’t have words to express our deepest gratitude for all your and the otherUNAFEI professors’ dedication, for successfully orientating us throughout this seminar and for being
our mates during this learning process.
Our warm thanks to the JICA staff, especially to Mr. Watanabe and to our two big sisters (Ms.
Yamamoto san and Ms. Hisa san), that with kindness and humor, never hesitated in helping us.
All UNAFEI staff, please receive our most grateful and special thanks. I would love to list every
single name here, expressing our tremendous gratitude, but unfortunately I don’t have enough time.
Your assistance was always offered with such promptness, plus a big smile.
Our utmost thanks to the Japanese participants. Even without knowing us, from the very
beginning you have hosted us as if we were friends for a long time. You are awesome! Good fellows
and warm hearted – your kindness and care overwhelmed us.

Arigato Gozaimasu!

Finally, my fellow participants (including my now good Brazilian friends Duarte san and Pablosan), receive my grateful thanks for having the opportunity to meet you and spend time with you! Bychance we met, by choice we became friends! And by choice we can still keep in touch!!! Don’t forget,
we’re even supposed to keep in touch … Thank God we have WhatsApp, Viber, Skype, e-mail; that wehave technology – all with the help of the Japanese ….!

4

Ladies and Gentleman
It is time to say goodbye; it is time to say ‘SAYONARA’
We leave Japan with the certainty that there is a long road to follow, searching for fairer justice,always adapted to the needs and realities of each country. We will return to our countries, to our daily
work, to our families, with many treasures from here. In our luggage, we take the shared experiences,
success stories, new ideas and rich study material, on which we must pay careful attention. In ourminds, we take great memories, beautiful images of this wonderful country, rich cultural learning, thepeculiar ways by which each country deals with the same matters. In our hearts we take thefriendships built here, that can last forever, if sown; in our hearts we also take a deep admiration andrespect for these wonderful and special people who so lovingly welcomed and treated us as part of thegreat Japanese family. For this people, who made this Nation what it is and represents today for all
humankind, we all bow in a sign of great respect and admiration and say:Kokorokara kansha to keii wo hyoushimasu. Arigatou Gozaimasu!!!

5