Working in cooperation with other refugee-led organizations and advocates/experts with lived experiences, we are implementing initiatives to promote meaningful participation of refugees.
Challenges
Further Social Inclusion through Meaningful Refugee Participation
EmPATHy, Japan Bridge, and Welcome Japan are launching various initiatives, including the "Refugee Consultation Initiatives," to reflect the voices of refugees in multiple decision-making processes and aim for further social inclusion. By leveraging Japan-led platforms, we promote mutual benefits for refugees and host communities.
What we do
Promoting Social Inclusion by Individuals with Refugee Backgrounds
To reflect diverse voices of individuals with refugee backgrounds in society, we advance activities with an inclusive approach and strive to raise awareness of refugee support within society.
Organizing Events in Collaboration with Various Organizations
We organize events in cooperation with governmental agencies, educational institutions, NGOs, etc., to convey the voices of refugees and expand the network of support.
Pledge
Collaborative Refugee Consultation Initiatives for Inclusive Decision-Making in Japan
EmPATHy, Japan Bridge, and Welcome Japan are proud to announce our commitment to the "Refugee Consultation Initiatives" in cooperation with other refugee-led organizations and advocates/experts with lived experience. Through our collective initiative, we will promote meaningful refugee engagement in a series of decision-making and implementation of services and policies impacting the lives and challenges of those experiencing forced displacement or its risk inside and outside of Japan. Particularly we will work on leveraging Japan-led spaces and initiatives for refugee participation and refugee-led advocacy, such as but not limited to Welcome Japan working groups, Welcome Japan CxO council, another pledge scheme for refugee inclusion "Welcome Challenge" launched for the Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan and Japan Youth with Refugees Platform. To amplify more voices of people with refugee or refugee-like backgrounds, we will expand our collaborations not only to stakeholders in Japan but also to global and regional networks. We aim to provide or hold more than 40 consultations until 2027 in consideration of the following points: 1. Inclusion is not a one-size-fits-all endeavor - promoting experience-driven and tailored approach to support individuals; 2. Concept of mutual benefit for refugee inclusion - achieving benefits for both refugees and host communities including companies providing support and employment opportunities to refugees in the process of social inclusion.
