"Japan Global Refugee Forum Network" kicks off and launches National Refugee Support Initiative

In early September 2024, the inaugural "Japan Global Refugee Forum Network Meeting" was co-hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) and UNHCR’s Japan Country Office. The meeting marked the launch of the network that will monitor progress on Japan’s pledges and aims to strengthen collaboration among stakeholders.

Japan was one of the five co-convening countries of the second Global Refugee Forum (GRF) in Geneva in December 2023. The Global Refugee Forum serves as a platform to exchange ideas and develop frameworks to address protracted refugee crises. Grounded in the principles of the Global Compact on Refugees (GCR), which was affirmed by the UN General Assembly in December 2018, the Forum is held every four years since 2019 to promote a "whole-of-society approach" to refugee support.

Last year, the event gathered over 4,000 participants, including governments, private sector actors, NGOs, religious groups, educational institutions, and refugees. The co-convenors’ term runs until the next GRF, in 2027, during which they are expected to provide leadership in the international community. 

Japan made over 40 pledges related to refugee support. To monitor progress and ensure implementation, the "Japan Global Refugee Forum Network" was established, with the first meeting attended by past GRF participants, as well as organizations interested in refugee support.

In his opening remarks, Hideki Kusakabe, Deputy Director-General of the International Cooperation Bureau at Ministry of Foreign Affairs, emphasized that Japan, as a GRF co-convening country, called for global solidarity for refugees, which is now starting to take root. “Japan is committed to refugee support, from policy making to field operations, and the private sector and NGOs play vital roles. We aim to strengthen collaboration among stakeholders through this network.", Kusakabe said.

Ayaki Ito, UNHCR’s Representative in Japan, followed with an explanation of the Forum’s objectives and history, reiterating the importance of the GCR’s four objectives: reducing burden on host countries, enhancing refugee self-reliance, expanding third country solutions, and supporting safe and dignified returns. He highlighted the new multilateralism championed by the High Commissioner, Filippo Grandi, which emphasizes that refugee support requires the participation of the whole-of-society, not just governments.

Six representatives from organizations that submitted pledges at the second GRF shared progress updates, highlighting follow-up actions on Japan’s pledges and discussing the importance of including refugees in the process.

During the discussions, the importance of following up on Japan’s pledges was reaffirmed. It was proposed that the network become a more open platform, where participants could learn from each other's successes and challenges and promote meaningful refugee participation in each pledge. 

The meeting also presented findings from UNHCR and IPSOS’ "Global Attitudes to Refugees" survey in 52 countries, which was released in June 2024. Participants actively suggested ways to expand empathy and support for refugees in Japan, the differences between Japan’s and other countries' responses, and how survey results have shifted over the years.

In concluding remarks, UNHCR emphasized that refugee participation is crucial in all efforts and must be nurtured. “Through this network, we hope to foster constructive discussions on addressing challenges in refugee support", Ito said.

The Japan Global Refugee Forum Network meetings will be held biannually until the next GRF in 2027. UNHCR Japan remains committed to working with partners in Japan and abroad to build a society where no one is left behind.

Find out more about key pledges submitted from Japan

Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) / Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)

As the lead country on the Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus (HDP Nexus) pledge, Japan’s Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa announced efforts at the second GRF to strengthen humanitarian workers capacity through the e-Center for Africa, with strong focus on the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda. Under JICA's leadership, projects supporting refugee self-reliance and development planning (in Uganda and Zambia), mental health and psychosocial support (in Jordan and Türkiye), expert deployment (to Kenya and Bangladesh), and conflict prevention and return assistance (to Ukraine and Colombia) are underway or being considered, contributing to several pledges, including the HDP Nexus.

Sony Group

In 2023, Sony Group formed a partnership with UNHCR through its Sony Global Relief Fund for COVID-19, committing approximately USD6 million over three years, with around USD4 million already disbursed.  Efforts are ongoing in Bangladesh and Southern Africa to support refugee and host community recovery and epidemic prevention. Sony is also exploring ways to leverage its technology to improve access to better healthcare and sanitation services. In April 2024, the company visited Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh.

Welcome Japan

To mark World Refugee Day (WRD) in June this year, Welcome Japan hosted the Welcome Japan Summit fostering discussions on promoting refugee’s inclusion in the labor market in Japan, including collaboration with industries through the CxO Council. They plan to hold events on housing support, while also focusing on Japanese language education and mental health support. In addition, they are working with companies to promote the employment of refugees in digital transformation (DX) roles, with a consortium expected to be formed, aiming to create employment opportunities worth around 10 billion yen.

Japan Buddhist Federation (JBF)

The JBF has been conducting outreach to its 60 member organizations and approximately 75,000 member temples across Japan. Their efforts include press conferences with the Religious Reporters' Club, the creation of a dedicated website and magazine, and illuminating temples in blue for WRD to raise awareness. They are also considering further education efforts within various Buddhist sects and planning promotional events at temples in Tokyo.

Soka Gakkai

In collaboration with UNHCR Japan, Soka Gakkai has been raising awareness through film screenings, exhibitions, and media coverage. In Jordan, they are advancing the “Music Brings Us Together” programme, which provides ongoing support to refugees through music education, fosters relationships between refugees and host communities and organizes workshops for children. They are also introducing music therapy programs for children with special needs.