IRC event in Tokyo: systems and support for refugees and asylees
On Sat Oct 21 I joined an excellent event coordinated by JAR (Japan Association of Refugees) supported by CGP and other refugee support organizations in Japan
There were two speakers from the International Rescue Committee (IRC) who introduced the refugee and asylee system in the US and then outlined the types of services the and other groups provided for people new to the US. I thought the IRC speakers had to cover too many issues in too short a time - if they had been the only speakers (with Q & A) for 3 hours they would have had just about enough time to go over the key issues.
It can not be assumed that audience members even understand what the terms refugee and asylum mean. This came out in one of the questions from the audience. someone asked about the skill criteria for the determination of refugee or asylum status. hmm. i thought. that means the person would not understand the difference between immigrants, migrants, and refugees. the fact that refuge is given on humanitarian basis was never introduced in the beginning as it was expected that everyone knew that - apparently not.
what also came out in the talk was the clear necessity for training and self help programs. such programs would need to not only involve members from the different communities as but also as program facilitators and community supporters. This allows for people to become self-empowered and less likely to become dependent on nonprofit NGOs, the government and others.
The part on the situation in Japan was also interesting but since i knew more about this I did not find it very moving or exciting.
I was also forced to reflect on why people leave their home country - because i rarely think about this. i sometimes think the basic issue of what makes a person seek to leave their own country is just not understood to many people in the US and Japan.not only those in the most dire situations but also those you are just looking to create a better lives. the fact that they have an idea about leaving things behind to lead a new life. even if it is tough. the issue might even be what one considers "home" to mean.
Lastly, it was also nice to see familiar faces like Hara from JVC, Noriko from my NGO class and Matsuura from JAR whom I knew from SIPA days. the world is indeed small.
There were two speakers from the International Rescue Committee (IRC) who introduced the refugee and asylee system in the US and then outlined the types of services the and other groups provided for people new to the US. I thought the IRC speakers had to cover too many issues in too short a time - if they had been the only speakers (with Q & A) for 3 hours they would have had just about enough time to go over the key issues.
It can not be assumed that audience members even understand what the terms refugee and asylum mean. This came out in one of the questions from the audience. someone asked about the skill criteria for the determination of refugee or asylum status. hmm. i thought. that means the person would not understand the difference between immigrants, migrants, and refugees. the fact that refuge is given on humanitarian basis was never introduced in the beginning as it was expected that everyone knew that - apparently not.
what also came out in the talk was the clear necessity for training and self help programs. such programs would need to not only involve members from the different communities as but also as program facilitators and community supporters. This allows for people to become self-empowered and less likely to become dependent on nonprofit NGOs, the government and others.
The part on the situation in Japan was also interesting but since i knew more about this I did not find it very moving or exciting.
I was also forced to reflect on why people leave their home country - because i rarely think about this. i sometimes think the basic issue of what makes a person seek to leave their own country is just not understood to many people in the US and Japan.not only those in the most dire situations but also those you are just looking to create a better lives. the fact that they have an idea about leaving things behind to lead a new life. even if it is tough. the issue might even be what one considers "home" to mean.
Lastly, it was also nice to see familiar faces like Hara from JVC, Noriko from my NGO class and Matsuura from JAR whom I knew from SIPA days. the world is indeed small.
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