Public Awareness, Political Apathy
in JOICFP RH/R Survey

For one week during December 2005, JOICFP conducted an on-line survey among the Japanese public on international cooperation and reproductive knowledge and awareness. The multiple-choice question survey was organized through a major on-line search engine, and over 1,000 people responded.

On average, about half the respondents were interested in international cooperation, but men in their 30s were less interested, while both men and women in their 50s were more interested.

When asked what kind of organization(s) should carry out international cooperation activities, 73% replied NGOs, 65.8% said UN organizations, with 43% replying government organizations.

The environment, followed by infectious diseases, including HIV/AIDS, were the top two most serious global issues, with population being rated fourth most serious. Out of global health issues, HI/AIDS was considered the issue that most needed attention.

When told the rate at which HIV is spreading in the world (one new infection every 30 seconds), 63.4% of the public indicated that this was faster than they had thought.

On being asked if the following measures were effective against the spread of HIV/AIDS the following percentages of the public replied yes:

However, on average, when asked about promoting abstinence as an effective measure, 74.2% said this was not an effective means. This contrasted with people in their 50s who said promotion of abstinence was effective.

Responding to what the role of ODA is, 47% said it contributed to both Japan and the recipients, and 45% said Japan had an international obligation as a major developed nation to deliver it.

However, less than half (48.8%) were able to select the correct percentage (0.9%) of the national budget that is spent on ODA from the choices of 0.9%, 1.9%, and 19%.

At the end of January 2006, JOICFP sent a fax multiple-choice questionnaire to all 720 Members of Parliament asking about ODA, NGOs and the MDGs. Only 58 MPs replied.

Out of these, 55.2% said that the ODA budget was insufficient but that this could not be helped, with only 10% saying it must be increased.

On being asked about the effects of lowering ODA, the biggest reason cited was Japan would lose its standing in the international community, followed by issues of interdependency on matters such as imports of food and energy, and lack of influence toward the UN Security Council.

(Item and percentage of MPs who chose it)

1. Education (65%)
2. Water and sanitation (60%)
3. The environment (41%)
4. Population and reproductive health (32.8%)
5. Agriculture and fishing (29%)
6. Women’s issues (29%)

When asked about NGOs, all MPs indicated that they would like a greater role for NGOs in international cooperation activities.

The following table indicates MPs responses to whether they knew about the three topics or not.

55% of MPs said that HIV was spreading as fast as they had thought.

Measures most chosen in the questionnaire to counter the spread of HIV were given as:-

Education in school

Counseling

Use of condoms

Out-of-school education

Stopping violence against women.