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3rd Tokyo Immigration Forum: Speech by UNHCR Representative in
Japan
Thursday, 21 December 2023
Introduction
Commissioner Kikuchi, Excellencies, distinguished representatives of the
participating Governments and International Organization for Migration,
thank you for having UNHCR at the 3rd Tokyo Immigration Forum. I am
particularly grateful that the Forum includes a session focusing on the
global and regional refugee issues. While distinct, migration and asylum
are interlinked. An effective and credible asylum system goes hand in
hand with a system of safe, orderly and regular migration.
It is also timely because Japan, represented by Foreign Minister Yoko
Kamikawa, presided over the second Global Refugee Forum (GRF), as one
of the co-conveners, held in Geneva, Switzerland, last week. Since I just
came back from Geneva myself, I would like to take this opportunity to
share some of the key takeaways from the GRF.
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GRF is the world’s largest gathering on refugee issues. It is held every
four years with four broad objectives: (i) ease pressures on refugee-
hosting countries, (ii) enhance refugee self-reliance, (iii) increase access
to third-country solutions, and (iv) improve conditions in countries of
origin towards voluntary repatriation.
While continuing to be seized of the humanitarian crises in Gaza and
Ukraine, GRF focused also on other humanitarian crises – often forgotten
- such as the flow of people taking the dangerous journey crossing the
Mediterranean and the Bay of Bengal, as well as the conflicts in Sudan,
Syria, Afghanistan, Myanmar, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and
the Americas. In addition, GRF examined closely the impact of climate
change as it exacerbates the crises, for instance in the Sahel region of
Africa.
The 2nd GRF was attended by more than 4,200 participants, including 300
refugees and representatives of governments, civil society, international
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and development agencies, business leaders, faith-based organizations,
academics and others - truly a whole of society approach.
Outcomes of the 2nd Global Refugee Forum
What were the outcomes of the 2nd GRF? The GRF is organized around
the "pledges" announced by various stakeholders to support refugees
and host communities. More than 1,600 pledges of financial, material,
policy and other forms of support were announced in Geneva last week.
Donors have pledged to provide over 2ドル.2 billion over the coming years.
From the private sector, commitment was made over 250ドル million in
funding pledges, one million pro bono hours, jobs for 100,000 refugees
and over 400,000 training opportunities, over 180ドル million in investment
into refugee-owned, refugee-supporting ventures, and over 6,000
scholarships.
Japan launched the "Humanitarian-Development-Peace (HDP) Nexus" as
a multi-stakeholder pledge, stressing the need for short-term
humanitarian assistance and a mid- to long-term development and
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peace-building approach implemented concurrently. It provides a
platform for collaboration among donor countries, host countries,
international organizations, and other key actors to realize human
security of refugees and those hosting them towards the 2030
Sustainable Development Goals. Japan also stated its support for
resettlement, education-focused pathways, as well as enhanced
international protection for those fleeing conflict. Uniqlo, Japanese
clothing company, appealed to the private sector to step up its effort to
ensure self-reliance of refugees including through their employment.
It was a true occasion of international unity and solidarity amid
increasing polarization in the world. Our High Commissioner, Filippo
Grandi characterized the 2nd GRF as follows: it is "... a moment of unity,
in which all of us join forces to ensure that those who flee because their
life, freedom and security are threatened can find protection; and that
everything is done to resolve their exile as soon as possible."
Conclusion
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Madame Sadako Ogata, former High Commissioner for Refugees, often
said "there is no humanitarian solution to a humanitarian problem." We
need political solutions to forced displacement. It is not only a
humanitarian but also development and peace-building agenda. The
road ahead is still long, but UNHCR will continue to seek solutions,
together with you, to the fundamental problems of humanitarian crises.
Thank you.