Ever since the October 7 attack by Hamas militants against Israel, universities around the world have come forward to make their stance on human rights clear. Universities are built to treasure the values of freedom of expression, academic freedom, and human rights, for they are of utmost importance in the pursuit of liberalism and democracy. It goes without saying that Keio University, with our guiding principle of "independence and self-respect," is no different. It is our mission as a university to give absolute respect to the rights of all human beings, regardless of their race or ethnicity, and to further academic knowledge that seeks to create a peaceful and cooperative society.
This March, Keio University invited university presidents and vice presidents from sixteen countries around the world to our Mita Campus and hosted the fifth U7+ Alliance Presidential Summit. During this event, those of us in attendance composed the Tokyo Statement which discusses the role that universities play in issues related to peace and security. The statement was submitted to Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida who chaired the G7 Hiroshima Summit and its ideas were then reflected in the official G7 Hiroshima Leaders' Communiqué.
We called on the G7 to engage in the following key areas specifically:
1) Invest in Peace and Security Education at All Levels
2) Incorporate the Latest Research into Policy on Peace and Security
3) Diversify Thinking about Peace and Security
4) Defend Academic Freedom and Free Speech
At Keio University, we established the KGRI Keio Center for Strategy as a research and educational institution to work towards objectives 1, 2, and 4. Likewise, for objectives 2, 3, and 4, we have taken active steps forward in our efforts related to the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as well as diversity, equity, and Inclusion (DEI), through creating initiatives such as the Keio University Student Conference and the Office for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion.
Those caught up in wars and conflicts might not have the spare resources to step back and contemplate world peace. This is why we need to have constructive third-party groups such as U7+ Alliance. The rise of "my-country-first" mentality inhibits cooperation and fuels division. It is for universities that are not currently embroiled in wars or local conflicts to use their neutral positions to analyze and propose diplomatic strategies that can establish effective and sustainable policies for peace, persuade others of their viability, and put these ideas into action.
Keio University hopes to lead the way in these efforts.
