・President’s Statement on Opposition to Military Invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation

President’s Statement on Opposition to Military Invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation

Currently, the Russian Federation’s military has invaded Ukraine and the Russian Federation itself has acknowledged this military invasion. Also, on February 26, 2022, the Japanese government recognized this incursion of the Russian military as an “invasion.”

The Charter of the United Nations provides in its preamble “to unite our strength to maintain international peace and security, and to ensure, by the acceptance of principles and the institution of methods, that armed force shall not be used, save in the common interest” and Article 2 of the Charter states that “All Members shall settle their international disputes by peaceful means in such a manner that international peace and security, and justice, are not endangered.” and “All Members shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state, or in any other manner inconsistent with the Purposes of the United Nations.” This prohibition on the use of force in the Charter of the United Nations was stipulated in light of war being the greatest violation of human rights. The military invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation is a clear violation of the Charter of the United Nations and cannot in any way be condoned.

The preamble of the Constitution of Japan states, “(the Japanese people) resolved that never again shall we be visited with the horrors of war through the action of government," and Article 9 states “(the Japanese people) forever renounce use of force as means of settling international disputes.”

Our mission, as lawyers, is to protect fundamental human rights and realize social justice. We call on the Japanese government to make further efforts toward peaceful conflict resolution, and strongly protest the military invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation.

February 28, 2022
Hiroshi Tanaka
President of the Osaka Bar Association