Writer: Ayako Hatano

On 22 September 2017, an international Seminar titled “Network Governance for Refugees: Possible Cooperation between Japan and Korea for Asia” was held at the University of Tokyo (Komaba Campus), co-sponsored by the Research Center for Sustainable Peace (RCSP) and the Human Security Program (HSP) of School of Arts and Sciences at the University of Tokyo, Asian Network on Refugee and International Protection (ANRIP), and Human Security Forum (HSF).

The seminar began with the opening remark of Mr. Saburo Takizawa, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Japan Association for UNHCR, and a keynote speech by Mr. Pillkyu Hwang, a human rights lawyer and refugee law expert in Korea. Mr. Hwang mentioned the important roles played by a network of diverse actors, including lawyers, NGOs and media, in the significant changes in the South Korean refugee protection policy during the last 10 years, including the establishment of the refugee law in 2013. Mr. Hwang emphasized the importance of continuing efforts with comprehensive approach including promoting trust and mutual understanding among the diverse actors that consist the network, advocacy to international institutions, comparative law research and awareness raising campaign for citizens as well as engagement in litigations and law reforms. On top of that, he concludes, while recognizing that there are issues including improvement of the approach of the network, organizational problems of politics, social norms and consciousness such as racism, we need a courage to take concrete actions with good communication based on common understanding and empathy to address these issues and change our legal system and society.

In the following panel discussion, Ms. Masako Suzuki, a lawyer and secretary general of the Lawyers Network for Foreigners, Mr. Yasuhiro Hishida, Deputy Director at the Refugee Recognition Section of the Immigration Bureau of the Ministry of Justice, Ms. Miyoko Taniguchi, who works on supporting Syrian refugees at Japan International Cooperation Agency(JICA), Ms. Akari Yuki from Social Innovation Team, Sustainability Department at Fast Retailing Co., Ltd. introduced and discussed the refugee policy and protection in Japan from their respective standpoints.

First, Mr. Hishida outlined Japanese refugee recognition system the situation of refugee status application and recognition in Japan, concerning the problem of a dramatic increase in the number of refugee status applications based on the misconception and abuse of the refugee application system. Ms. Suzuki, from the standpoint of a lawyer who has been involved in the issue of refugee recognition and protection for many years, pointed out the problem of Japanese refugee policy that prioritized immigration control without supporting refugees and asylum seekers. She sought for a comprehensive policy reform including migrant labor policy to solve those problems as well as the settlement issues of refugee in which collaboration between public and private is indispensable. Ms. Taniguchi introduced refugee support projects and its challenges in the context of global peacebuilding, with the case of JICA’s assistance of Syrian refugees in the Middle East. She also talked about a new initiative to accept Syrian refugees at Japanese universities as international students. Ms. Yuki introduced the refugee support project of First Retailing cooperating with UNHCR and NGOs in which they hired refugees at their shops and contributed to the economic empowerment and independence of refugees.

On the other hand, Mr. Hwang said that more resources including budget and personnel were needed to solve the problem of lengthy refugee recognition with a strengthened public and private cooperation. Mr. Takizawa commented that Japan should learn to learn from South Korea in its reform of the whole immigration system and policy while the case of First Retailing to take advantage of the power of refugees themselves can be a good example for South Korea as refugee should be recognized as an important autonomous actor in economy and peacebuilding. Furthermore, Mr. Naoki Tani, Assistant Legal Affairs Officer of UNHCR Office in Japan, commented that different countries have different contexts, including Japan and South Korea, and as there is no perfect host country, a cooperation of diverse actors is necessary. He also mentioned that this seminar like ANRIP was very important for the development and cooperation of the network, followed by a voice of consent from panelists.

In the question and discussion session with the participants, the issue of “abuse” of refugee status application was also discussed, but Mr. Hwang said we should focus on the necessity of clear and transparent recognition criteria and processes first, rather than the issue of refugee application number. Also, to the question on how to foster mutual trust among different actors to cause positive change, he replied that it is necessary to have experiences of collaborating on the ground first, during which they have the important process of learning about what can be shared among them. There were also some opinions to suggest that UNHCR can contribute more to the development of a constructive dialogue in the network to solve refugee problems. In conclusion, it was agreed that continuing dialogue of actors engaged in refugee protection both domestically and internationally was critical for everyone.

At this seminar, more than 40 participants from inside and outside of the university shared the current situation and issues of refugee policy in Japan and Korea, engaged in an intensive discussion about learnings from each country’s contexts and efforts and acknowledging the importance of collaboration among diverse actors. This seminar itself, in which the government, companies, international organizations, legal professionals, academia and other actors gathered together for frank discussion, was one of great opportunities of precious dialogue and cooperation for network development.

※ This seminar is sponsored by Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research (A) of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, 2016-2021: Network Governance for Access to Justice in East Asia (FY2008 – FY2002, Representative: Yasunobu Sato) It was held and received.

Yasunobu Sato, Professor/Director, RCSP, UTokyo