UNAFEI
151st International Training Course
Closing ceremony
21st June 2012
Farewell Speech by Mr. Abderahim RAHOUTI
From Morocco

Honorable Members of the Diplomatic Corps;
Mr. Tatsuya SAKUMA, Director of UNAFEI;
Mr. Haruhiko UKAWA, Deputy Director of UNAFEI;
Mr. Hisanao NODA, Deputy Director General, TIC, JICA;
Mr. Osamu SHIMIZU, President of Research and Training Institute of theMinistry of Justice;
Faculty and Staff Members of UNAFEI;
JICA Staff Members;
Distinguished Guests;
Fellow Participants;
Ladies and Gentlemen

On behalf of my fellow participants from Japan and overseas,
allow me to express our profound gratitude and sincere appreciation forhaving been granted the opportunity to participate in this 151st International
Training Course. Our genuine gratitude goes to the Government of Japan, theorganizations of JICA, UNAFEI and ACPF, and all the people who have madeour participation not only possible but manifestly a successful experience.
This training course involves 24 participants from 14 different
countries, including Japan, and of different professional backgrounds: Judicial,Correctional and Police. The theme of our course, “Evidence BasedTreatment of Offenders", has been explored, discussed and deeply analyzed
through various methods and processes of learning: lectures delivered by
UNAFEI Professors, International Visiting Experts and Japanese Ad‐hoc
lecturers, Individual presentations by the participants, group workshops andplenary sessions, observation visits, and so on. All these methods, together
with the favorable learning environment, deepened our knowledge andbroadened our views of the issue.
Our training course focused on the implementation of Evidence
Based Treatment of Offenders Treatment in Prisons, Probation and Parole via
the use of validated scientific tools, instead of implementing correctional
treatment relying only on professional experience and subjective evaluation.
Risk/Needs assessment tools are examples of evidence based practice thatallow us to identify offenders’ static and dynamic risk factors, the latter ofwhich can be targeted in effective and appropriate programmes. After all, theultimate objective of evidence based treatment of offenders is safer prisonsand safer communities by reducing reoffending. We believe that our training
programme has achieved its explicit objectives to a large extent: allparticipants shared their respective countries’ experiences and future
directions and challenges in implementing or enhancing evidence based
treatment of offenders. We are aware of international trends and wish toremain so, via the establishment of a global network for the exchange of
updated information on the practices of the respective countries.

In this regard, we would like to express our sincere gratitude to
all Japanese lecturers, Volunteer Probation Officers and the international
visiting experts whose presentations were very informative and interesting.
Notwithstanding, I would like to highlight the study tours whichallowed us to acquire further information and explanations from officials,experts and practitioners.
In particular, it was a great honor for all of us to be granted acourtesy interaction with the honorable Vice‐Minister of Justice and toattend the wonderful party he hosted and to which he invited officials fromsome of our respective countries’ embassies in Tokyo.
Distinguished Ladies and gentlemen
On behalf of my fellow participants I would like to express oursincere gratitude to ACPF for its valuable assistance. We will never forget its
hospitality while hosting the first dinner party after our arrival at the UNAFEI.
We were extremely delighted also to watch live SUMO competitions andattend a dinner party. And above all, the most memorable event hosted by
ACPF was the Yokohama Harbor Dinner Cruise which was an experience of
lifetime and a dream come true.
We really feel indebted to the ACPF for its generosity, warm
hospitality and continuous assistance.
Madams and Sirs
It is said that “ first impressions are lasting “; for this reason, wewould like on this occasion to express our profound gratitude andappreciation to JICA’s officials and staff members for their warm welcome,punctuality, hospitality and continuous caring. JICA was our first sweet homein Japan, and our first guide who introduced us successfully to Japan as awhole, through useful orientation sessions and corresponding lectures about
Japanese culture, society, economy, politics and so on.
Thank you JICA, we will remain indebted to you forever for all
you have done for us from our arrival to Japan until our departure. And today,
we cannot talk about the intensive efforts made by JICA without mentioning“HOSHINO–san”, who was omnipresent during the whole program as JICA’s
Coordinator and to whom we are so grateful for her patience, tolerance and,above all, warm caring.
Distinguished Ladies and gentlemen,
Before coming to Japan, we, overseas participants, had neverheard about the UNAFEI until it became really our familiar and sweet home
for more than a month. Each time, after our observation visits, we realized
how comfortable and wonderful it was to be back in our familiar rooms. On
this occasion I would like to express our sincere gratitude to all the staff ofUNAFEI who were always there at the front door waving with both hands,
wishing us a good trip; and when we were back, they were always there once
again waving with both hands, welcoming us so warmly whatever the time or
the weather. This would not be possible without a totally devoted,
committed and restless staff.
In this concern, special thanks go to our tender leader and silent
example during the whole program, the director of UNAFEI. SAKUMA san,you did not give any lecture in this training program; however, you can be
sure that what we learnt from you during this period is not less than what welearnt in our classes. You have given us an example of a modern leader, acaring father, a gentleman – a man of manners, and a source of insight andinspiration. We could all see in you how leading by example is the best way
to build up team work and make the change we need.

It is worth noting here, that we all envy you SAKUMA san, for thegreat and valuable team that you have in UNAFEEI. It is really a team ofchallenge, persistence, self denial and preparedness. We would like on thisoccasion to express our genuine gratitude to all members of this teamstarting from cleaners, kitchen staff, administrators, linguistic advisor, and all
knowledgeable professors namely: the deputy director UKAWA san for his
friendly assistance, the “tireless“ TSUNODA San, TASHIRO San, YOSHIDA San,YOSHIMORA San, TADA San, IZUMI San, YANAKA San, and IWASHITHA San .
Thank you mother UNAFEI, for in the absence of our families andfriends, you really have been our families and our friends.
Madams and Sirs,
Very special thanks go to the Japanese participants who
facilitated and accelerated our adaptation to the Japanese environment.
Thanks to them, our everyday life has been made so exciting and interesting
through spontaneous interaction and weekend tours at the expense of theirrest and their families. Special thanks to them for providing us withsatisfactory explanations about Japanese traditions and ways of life. They
were always near at hand when called upon to give information and answer
our questions, even while doing some shopping or choosing our food on ouroutside visits. We, overseas participants, feel very glad, even very proud, forsharing with them the same program.
Last but not the least, we would like to thank UNAFEI for
allowing us to experience the Japanese language course, to make self
introductions in Japanese, with the support of Soroptimist members, towitness a Japanese traditional tea ceremony, to practice some Japanese folksongs, and above all to experience wonderful karaoke moments in lounge B .
Madams and Sirs

In conclusion, and on behalf of my fellow participants, I would
like to assure you that, after the completion our Training Course, we will
endeavor, persist, and raise the bar, whatever the obstacles and difficulties,
until change is achieved and challenges met, for we really feel now more
empowered and equipped with this rich learning experience that we haveundergone.
Distinguished ladies and gentlemen,
Forgive my long speech for it is not a mere formality on theoccasion of this closing ceremony. We really feel that whatever the words
and expressions of gratitude we use, they will not be enough, and they will
never reveal the wonderful feelings we would like to convey.
May GOD Almighty Bless this wonderful country and its friendly
people and bless us all.
Thank You Very Much …………….Arigato Gozaimas