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Economic Development

Closing Gender Gaps in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH): Challenges, Progress and Equitable Access

The global overview of the period between 2000 and 2022 reflects significant progress in providing safe drinking water and sanitation services to communities worldwide. Despite the increase in global population to a predicted 8 billion people, the number of individuals lacking at least basic drinking water services decreased from 1.2 billion to 703 million.

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Welcome on board the Almaty-Tokyo Express: Japan’s pragmatic diplomacy in Central Asia

Owing to Central Asia’s geographical proximity and historical links to both Russia and China, it is understandable that the activities of both powers in this region receive the most attention. There is, however, one other power whose influence and activities in the region are often left out of the equation: Japan

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Business Responsibility in Promoting Peace

The title of this article may, at first glance, seem ironic or unrealistic. Indeed, imagining links between business, human rights and peace may be inconceivable for the obvious reason that the protection of human dignity and the maintenance and preservation of peace are generally the responsibility of states. However, the debate on the need for corporate responsibility to incorporate respecting human rights is not new.

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A long way from home: the unexpected smart power role of Japan Self-Defence Force Base Djibouti

The Japanese military presence in the Horn of Africa commenced in 2009, when two Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force (JMSDF) destroyers were dispatched to the region to participate in counterpiracy operations following an emergency order from the cabinet. In 2011, in order to facilitate this, Japan Self-Defence Force (JSDF) Base Djibouti was established.

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