Activity report

Hiroaki Ito, Senior Assistant Professor Department of International Economy Faculty of Economics Teikyo University

In 1998, while studying at Faculty of Languages and Cultures he studied abroad at Ankara University in Turkey. In 2001, he entered Graduate School Tokyo University of Foreign Studies, and in 2004, he studied abroad at the Ataturk Institute at Bogazici University in Turkey. In 2006, he became a specialist researcher at the Embassy of Japan in Turkey. In 2009, he joined the Refugee Assistance Headquarters of the Public Interest Foundation for the Welfare and Education of Asia. In 2010, he completed his doctoral program at Graduate School School of Area Studies at Tokyo University of Foreign Studies, receiving Doctor of Philosophy, and has been working as a part-time Senior Assistant Professor at Tokyo University of Foreign Studies since 2010. In 2019, he joined Faculty of Economics at Teikyo University, where he is primarily conducting research on refugee policy in Turkey and the protection and support of Syrian refugees.

"What is a refugee?" Is always the fundamental theme in refugee support and refugee protection. To talk about this theme, we need to unravel history. First, the United Nations was established in 1945 because it failed to prevent World War II. In 1948, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted in light of the Nazi persecution of Jews and the reflection of the neglect of basic human rights around the world during the war. Then, in 1951, the "Convention on the Status of Refugees" was adopted, and since then the world has recognized people who meet the definitions given here as "refugees". In 1967, the "Protocol on Refugee Status" was further adopted, removing geographical and time constraints from the 1951 Convention and forming the current "Refugee Convention". In this way, a framework has been put in place for territorial sovereign states to protect those who have to evacuate across national borders for some reason.

On the other hand, half a century has passed since the final adoption, and the world has changed dramatically. Not only are there cases of persecution fleeing the country, but an increasing number of people are in the category of "quasi-refugees" who are forced to move due to various reasons and need protection. Internally displaced persons and those granted residence due to humanitarian considerations are considered quasi-refugees in need of protection, although they do not necessarily fit the traditional definition of refugee. Japan is often criticized for having extremely low refugee acceptance, but it is also pointed out that it strictly applies the definition under the 1951 Convention. The world is under pressure to take new steps in dealing with diversifying refugees.

I first came into contact with refugees as a university student. Utilizing an exchange program and a scholarship from the former Ministry of Education, I studied at Ankara University in Turkey for a year, where I got to know Kurdish refugees from Iraq and also had the opportunity to meet Afghan refugees while traveling in Pakistan. However, it wasn't until I became Graduate School that I became directly involved with the refugee issue. This started when I worked part-time as a Turkish interpreter, handling refugee applications and other matters. Just before completing Graduate School, I worked for a refugee support organization for around 10 years, and since 2019 I have been researching the refugee issue in Turkey at Teikyo University.

Turkey is the largest refugee host country in the world and one of the most important countries in refugee research today. Especially since 10 years ago, we have accepted a large number of Syrian refugees (*). At present, there are more than 3.7 million Syrian refugees living in Turkey, and the total number of people evacuated from other countries is about 4 million. A characteristic of Turkey is that it ratifies the Refugee Convention but imposes geographical restrictions, limiting refugee status to those who have fled European countries. Granting geographic restrictions is a treaty-recognized right, but only four countries are exercising it. The geopolitical position that Turkey is a key point of the Silk Road connecting Europe and Asia and that it is surrounded by conflicting countries such as Iraq and Syria has a great influence. Due to its proximity to Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Central Asia, the concern behind the "restrictions" is that refugee claims from different countries must be accepted if they meet the definition. Under these circumstances, in the event of the European migrant crisis in 2015, the EU has agreed to provide Turkey with financial assistance instead of having refugees retained. Turkey's refugee policy is in a very complicated situation internationally.

• * Syrian refugees are temporarily protected by the system.

It has been said that there are three permanent solutions to the refugee problem. The first is the return to the home country. However, it requires a solution to the underlying problem. Returning is difficult unless the country does not give rise to refugees in the first place. The second is the first evacuation country = settlement in the first asylum country. Syrian refugees are the case if they can settle in Turkey and integrate into society. However, it is not easy because each country has its own allowance and the conditions and environment are different. The third is resettlement. This is a way to get refugees protected by UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) to be accepted by third countries such as Japan, Canada and Australia. However, because it depends on the political situation of the partner country, it is difficult for them to accept it.

That's why a new movement is now emerging. Refugees are still people with potential, and it's not uncommon for them to have been outstanding individuals in their home countries. Turkey has granted naturalization to such individuals, recognizing them as valuable members of society, and there are also cases of Syrian refugees starting their own businesses. In other countries, Jordan has established a special economic zone with the cooperation of University of Oxford, kicking off efforts to increase the economic potential of Syrian refugees. Furthermore, as evidenced by the presence of a refugee team at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics, there is ample opportunity for refugees to thrive in the fields of sports and the arts. Focusing on the potential of individuals and harnessing that potential to contribute to society is gaining attention as a way to resolve the refugee problem.