As world leaders gathered on Saturday for Global Goal: Unite for Our Future — The Summit, Japan shared an important message of solidarity with Global Citizens.
The Summit — which comes ahead of the Concert premiering worldwide on June 27 — brought together world leaders, corporates, and philanthropists, all committing their support in tackling COVID-19 for the world’s poorest and most marginalized communities. You can find out how to tune in and watch the Concert wherever you are in the world — including on Fuji TV in Japan — here.
All of the financial and in-kind commitments, pledges of support, and messages of global solidarity that have come as a result of the Global Goal: Unite for Our Future campaign will accelerate the equitable development and delivery of tests, treatments, and vaccines against COVID-19 to everyone, everywhere — especially vulnerable and marginalized communities and health workers on the front lines.
It will also help ensure communities have the resources needed to respond and rebuild, getting the world back on track to achieving the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Japan’s support, as one of the G7 countries alongside Canada, France, Germany, Italy, the UK, and the US, is critical, contributing to the strong global leadership and collaboration we need if we’re going to put an end to COVID-19.
“As the world finds itself in the midst of the fight against the novel coronavirus, Global Goal: Unite for Our Future provides the international community with a great opportunity to build solidarity and present the next step,” Japan shared a message in the Summit — streamed around the world on platforms including Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, Twitch, and TIDAL.
“In order to make a turnaround in this battle, it is critical to speed up research and development, and global manufacturing capacity for vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics, ensuring equitable global access for all to those essential tools,” the message continued. “Japan is committed to international cooperation and, in particular, mindful of the need of vulnerable developing countries.”
“For enhanced global collaboration and equitable access, Japan supports the concept of the Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator,” the message further continued. “A high priority lies in the development of therapeutics in the short term, and vaccines in the medium to long term. Japan will continue to work closely with our partners to maximise access to safe and effective vaccine supply for all in need, prioritizing health care workers and vulnerable groups."
“Infectious diseases know no borders,” the message concluded. “No one is protected until everyone is protected. United action is the only way to overcome this unprecedented crisis.”
"Global Goal: Unite for Our Future — The Summit" marked a significant milestone in the global efforts to mobilize tens of billions in funding still needed to combat COVID-19, mitigate the impact on the world’s most vulnerable people, and to protect the world’s most fragile health systems and communities.
The "Global Goal: Unite for Our Future" campaign mobilized more than $1.5 billion in cash grants and $5.4 billion in loans and guarantees, for a total of $6.9 billion pledged to provide equitable access to COVID-19 tests, treatments, and vaccines, as well as support for the world's poorest and most marginalized communities.
Commitments and announcements were made by government leaders from: Austria, Barbados, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, European Commision and European Investment Bank, ECOWAS, El Salvador, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, India, Italy, Israel, Japan, Kuwait, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, the Russian Federation, South Korea, Saint Vincent and Grenadines, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, State of Qatar, Sweden, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America.
By working together with a clear plan to protect the world’s most vulnerable communities, international cooperation will ensure treatments, vaccines, and diagnostics are shared equitably to everyone, everywhere, along with access to the necessary economic, educational, and basic resources they need.
Join the movement by taking action to support the Global Goal: Unite for Our Future campaign here. You can also find out more about COVID-19, how it’s impacts are being felt around the world, and what we need to do to stop it, through Global Citizen’s coverage here.