the outskirts of Jericho to make this a reality.

At the aid pledging conference for Palestine held in Paris in December 2007, Japan announced its intent to provide US$150 million of assistance for the immediate future. Then, following the massive aerial bombardment of Gaza by the Israeli Army that lasted from December 2008 to January 2009, Japan announced assistance to Palestine of US$200 million for the immediate future, including US$60 million worth of emergency humanitarian and recovery assistance for Gaza. This was announced at the International Conference in Support of the Palestinian Economy for the Reconstruction of Gaza which was held in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt in March 2009. Presently Japan is steadily providing assistance.

Furthermore, Japan upholds the Palestinian Self-Government Authority Charter that was announced in 2008, and supports the creation of a Palestinian state. The charter aims for institution and organization building in order to create a nation within two years.

## (4) Unexploded Ordinance, Anti-Personnel Landmines, Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW), Etc

In regions that were once in conflict, anti-personnel landmines and unexploded ordinance such as cluster munitions still remain, and illicit small arms and light weapons (SALW) are widespread. These indiscriminately kill and injure even non-combatants including children. They not only hinder reconstruction

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In regard to cluster munitions, the Convention on Cluster Munitions entered into force on August 1, 2010, and in December that year it was signed by 38 countries, including Japan (108 signatory countries). Japan has been continuously providing the international cooperation and support stipulated in this convention.

As for anti-personnel landmines, Japan works towards the universalization of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction (Ottawa Convention), as well as on assistance for mine action and technical development. At the second Review Conference of the Ottawa Convention in 2009, Japan announced a comprehensive approach that will serve as its future direction. This consists of: (1) emphasizing partnerships with countries (and individuals) who are victims; (2) joint initiatives by the and development activities, but they can also cause the recurrence of conflicts. Assistance with consideration given to domestic stability and security, such as the removal of unexploded ordinance and landmines, the collection and destruction of SALW, and capacity building for landmine victims, is important.

private sector, government, academia, and civil society for the landmine problem; and (3) mine action and the development of afflicted regions.

In regard to measures against SALW, Japan provides support for the collection, disposal, and appropriate stockpile management of SALW in combination with development assistance. Furthermore, Japan contributes to the improvement of relevant legal systems and capacity building for law enforcement agencies aimed at strengthening the control of the import and export of weapons, boosting the ability to carry out crackdowns, and improving public security. Japan also carries out disarmament and social reintegration projects for former soldiers and former child soldiers and awareness raising activities related to SALW, and holds seminars by experts.