Japanese

On January 29, 2026, Ms. Pramila Patten, United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict (hereinafter referred to as SRSG Patten), visited the Higashi-Hiroshima Campus of Hiroshima University (HU) and met with Executive Vice President (Global Initiatives) Shinji Kaneko. During the meeting, they exchanged views on the grave realities of sexual violence against women in conflict settings and the importance of women’s participation in peacebuilding. They also discussed the role HU can play, from the perspective of safeguarding the safety and dignity of people affected by conflict, as well as potential avenues for future collaboration.

Following the courtesy visit, an exchange of views was held with HU faculty members and students. Participants included Professor Mari Katayanagi (Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences), Associate Professor Dahlia Simangan (The IDEC Institute), Associate Professor Tatsuo Yamane (Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences), and five students, who engaged in lively discussions grounded in their research and practical experiences. The students presented their research on themes such as peacebuilding, refugee support, and the reduction of prejudice, sharing insights into how sexual violence in conflict is deeply intertwined with social and economic structures. SRSG Patten emphasized the importance of linking academic research with policy challenges faced by the UN and expressed her expectations for the students’ future research endeavors.

Since assuming her position in April 2017, SRSG Patten has visited conflict-affected regions around the world and has led international efforts to prevent and eradicate sexual violence in conflict.

As a university founded in Hiroshima, the first city in human history to suffer an atomic bombing, HU opposes all forms of violence and is committed to education, research, and international collaboration aimed at the restoration and realization of peace. Building on this visit, the University will continue to contribute to the achievement of global peace through the cultivation of peace-pursuing, cultured individuals with an international mindset.