Global Refugee Forum: Japan’s Refugee Recognition System Challenged

2023-12-12 11:12:04

The Global Refugee Forum, a United Nations meeting to discuss the ever-increasing number of refugees, will begin on the 13th in Geneva, Switzerland. Prior to the meeting, foreigners facing difficulties in applying for asylum and volunteer lawyers held a press conference in Tokyo on the 12th, speaking regarding Japan, which serves as the co-chair country, and said, “The refugee recognition system is causing hardship to foreigners seeking help,” the chairperson said. “Do they have national qualifications?” he stressed the need to improve the system.

◆The forum will be held in Switzerland from the 13th

The meeting is held once every four years to discuss responses to refugees. Japan will serve as the chair country along with France and others, and Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa will participate.

Japan’s refugee recognition rate is 2%, which is extremely low compared to other developed countries such as the United States (approximately 46%). There is little support for asylum seekers, and some have been forced to live in the wild. At the press conference, lawyer Chie Komai pointed out, “People seeking help are not being properly protected.”

Elizabeth (right) and Safari raise issues with Japan’s refugee recognition system

Safari, who fled persecution in Iran in 1991 and is now applying for refugee status for the third time, said, “I was still not recognized as a refugee and was detained twice and became ill (depressed). “They have hardly accepted any of these countries and do not abide by international law.”

Elizabeth, a native of Nigeria who came to Japan in 1991 and is currently applying for refugee status for the second time, emphasized, “Recently, there were people who died without being recognized as refugees.Japan’s system is strange.” (Shinichi Ikeo)


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