UK :: JP ::

In the five days since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, more than 500,000 people have become refugees (according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)).

This is the largest number of displaced persons in Europe since the Yugoslav conflict.

Some reports say that "up to 4 million Ukrainians and refugees are expected to flee the country."

The Ukrainian government has begun recruiting volunteers and providing arms from around the world, but if the fighting continues to escalate, it is the civilians who will be most affected.

In response to this situation, actions have begun around the world by governments and local authorities to help the evacuees.

Poland

The government announced the establishment of several reception facilities for evacuees near the border. A medical train has also been dispatched to the Ukrainian area to transport the wounded.

Until now, negative proof of corona and proof of vaccination were required to enter the country, but the government plans to remove these restrictions and further promote acceptance.

The official government site for acceptance.

France : The government has secured approximately 310,000 places to stay in France and may open schools and public facilities as needed.

The U.S. : The governor of New York State has announced that the state will accept refugees from Ukraine.

Sweden : Immigration officials say they are prepared to accept more refugees in the future.

Czech Republic : The government is ready to accept refugees from Ukraine.

Romania : Work for 9 months without a visa has been granted to evacuees from Ukraine. At the Prime Minister's request, the Romanian Armed Forces will be ready to receive wounded soldiers in Ukraine at 11 military hospitals in the Medical Directorate to provide medical assistance in treating and curing them.

Slovakia : The Ministry of Transportation began operating an accommodation assistance website for Ukrainian refugees. The site provides information on hundreds of acceptable hotels and other accommodations in the country, free of charge for refugees.

Hungary : As in Poland and Romania, pets are allowed.

Germany : Regarding the reception of evacuees in Germany, Interior Minister Nancy Feser said that the country is considering offering temporary protection without administrative procedures such as applying for refugee status. Measures are being considered that would allow Ukrainians to live in Germany for up to three years after 90 days without a visa.

And in Japan, people are asking "Can't we accept refugees from Ukraine?" This is the common question that is emerging from the private sector as well as the political world.

As Japanese citizens, here are our proposals to our Japanese government.

Why don't you consider expanding the existing immigration regulations to accept refugees without having to create completely new regulations?

Specifically, there are seven expansions that Japan can take for refugees from Ukraine

 

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Action 1: Allowing Ukrainian family members in Japan.

Due to the impact of the spread of the new coronavirus infection, Japan currently imposes restrictions on the entry of even family members of Ukrainians within the framework of a short-term visa (tourist visa). Please consider a partial relaxation of this regulation.

Action 2.: Expansion of the third country resettlement.

The third-country resettlement is the process of moving refugees who have received temporary asylum in refugee camps, etc., from the country where they initially sought asylum to a third country that has newly agreed to accept them and grant them long-term rights to stay (Reference source: "Overview of Third Country Resettlement" prepared by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Japan).

This framework currently provides opportunities for 60 people at maximum per a year, but in practice, only about 20 people can get this opportunity. Please consider expanding it to those who have already been displaced from Ukraine and wish to apply to resettle Japan.

Action 3: Providing a legal status as a "refugee" and expedited protection in an extrajudicial framework

When an asylum seeker comes to Japan on his/her own or when a refugee application is filed by a Ukrainian resident in Japan, we ask for prompt protection instead of keeping them on indefinite waiting lists with unstable legal status, which happens now. In this regard, Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsuno has already stated at a press conference that "those who apply for refugee status from Ukraine after the military invasion by Russia and Ukrainians whose status has expired in Japan will be allowed to stay in Japan even if they are not recognized as 'refugees' under the Refugee Convention if their humanitarian consideration is deemed necessary" and "those who are not recognized as 'refugees' under the Refugee Convention will be allowed to stay in Japan if their status is deemed necessary for humanitarian reasons." We welcome the prompt indication that "the same response will be taken to refugee applications by Russians and others who opposed Russia's invasion of Ukraine."

Action 4: Expansion of the project to accept foreign students through grant aid under the government plan

Under the government's "100,000 Foreign Students Plan," the grant aid program for foreign students established in FY1999 (Scholarship Program for Human Resource Development) will accept more than 350 foreign students from 19 countries in FY2021, which brings the total number of foreign students who have come to Japan to date to more than 5,000, including masters and doctoral students. The target countries in this framework are currently Asia (Southeast Asia, South Asia), Africa, Maldives, Kenya, and El Salvador. Please consider adding Ukraine to this list.

Action 5: Expansion of the Japanese Government Scholarship Program

Similar to Action 4, please consider expanding the government-sponsored foreign student program as a framework for accepting students as "foreign students" (rather than "refugees") and make Ukrainians who have already arrived in Japan and Ukrainians who have fled to neighboring countries eligible to apply.

Action 6: Provide financial assistance to Japanese language schools and universities that have announced their intention to accept "foreign students."

After the outbreak of the civil war in Syria, Japanese language schools and universities have been accepting Syrian refugees free of charge under the coordination of NPOs.

Please consider providing financial assistance to Japanese language schools and other institutions so that they can similarly accept students from Ukraine.

Action 7: Expansion of work-based residential status

If a company hires displaced persons from Ukraine, they can settle and work under “Engineer, Specialist in Humanities, International Services” status.

Due to the emergency in Ukraine, please make preparations so that the issuance of a certificate of eligibility and other procedures can be carried out smoother and faster than usual. In addition, please consider supporting companies that try to provide workplaces for refugees. Consider providing flexibility with allowing those displaced persons from Ukraine who have already stayed in Japan for a short period or under a different status of residence to change their status of residence.

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Moving to another country by any means necessary to save one's own life or one’s own family means living as a foreigner in a foreign land as a "resident."

To settle down in Japan, it is essential to have not only a status of residence but also support from the private sector.

We hope that the Japanese government will create a forum to discuss a framework of support in cooperation with the public and private sectors. This framework of support should start with the seven actions above.

And to all of you who are reading this page, you also can do many things.

First of all, we would be happy if you would consider signing on to this petition campaign (whether as an individual or as a corporation).

Even if you have to leave your homeland for a while, it is not the end of your life. It should not be the end. 

Please support us so that we can create as many ways as possible on earth where we can feel safe for each and every life. 

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**We revised grammar mistakes in the tittle and changed from “Seven Actions; Japan can Take Actions for Ukrainian Refugees” to “Seven Actions Japan can take for Refugees from Ukraine”. (20/03/2022 10:57 JST)

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Founder

Sayaka Watanabe Kankolongo (Representative Director, NPO WELgee/Global Shapers Tokyo Hub)

Jintae Kim (Trustee of then Welcome Japan/ Representative of Robo Co-op, a general incorporated association)

Oleksii (Ukrainian)

Sponsors (in no particular order) (titles omitted)

《Business》

Ken Shibusawa (Founding Chairman, Commons Investment Trust K.K., Founding CEO, Shibusawa & Company, Inc.)

Hiroshi Mikitani (Chairman and CEO, Rakuten Group, Inc.)

Mitsuru Izumo (President and Representative Director, Euglena Co.)

Yoko Sakanoue (Management Strategist)

Daisuke Yamazaki (Executive Vice President and Representative Director, Motherhouse, Inc.)

Haruka Mera (Representative Director, READYFOR Co., Ltd.)

Koichiro Fujii (CEO and Representative Director, Makaira Corporation)

Akira Takahashi (COO, Makaira Corporation)

Ichiro Kawanabe (Chairman and Representative Director, Nihon Kotsu Co.)

Masatada Kobayashi (Chief Well-Being Officer, Rakuten Group of Companies)

Keisuke Hanyuda (CEO, OWLS Consulting Group, Inc.)

Akihiro Aoyama (President, People Port Corporation (ZERO PC))

Takumi Yamaguchi (President and Representative Director, PR TIMES, Inc.)

Kazunari Taguchi (President, and Representative Director, Borderless Japan, Inc.)

Ayaka Ishikawa (Global Shapers Yokohama Hub)

Jo Atoka (Global Shapers Yokohama Hub)

Yu Shinagawa (CEO, An-Nahal Inc.)

Asako Tsuji (CEO&Creative Director, arca Inc.)

《Social Sector and NPO》

Iki Tanaka (YSC Global School)

Hiroki Komazaki (Policy Entrepreneur, Member of Government Expert Panel)

Lin Kobayashi (President, United World College ISAK Japan)

Kanae Doi (Human Rights Watch)

Ibuki Ozawa (Representative, PIECES, a certified NPO)

Lee Hyungsik (President, Learning for All NPO)

Masataka Uo (President, Japan Fundraising Association)

Haruo Miyagi

Naoko Wakabayashi (President, Social P.R. Partners, Inc.)

Anju Ishiyama (President, Public Meets Innovation, Inc.)

Shun Onoda (Representative Attorney, Onoda Takasago Law Office)

Kumi Imamura (Representative Director, authorized NPO Katariba)

Yuka Fujii (Internet radio program Dialogue Radio/Global Shapers Yokohama Hub)

Tomoko Shirai, President, New Public Interest Alliance

Daichi Konuma (Representative Director, NPO Crossfields)

Kazuhiro Takeda (Co-Chairman, Wildoor General Incorporated Association)

Misato Nagakawa (Director, Wake Up Japan)

Taku Tamura (President, EDAS)

Rika Sueyoshi (President, Ethical Association of Japan)

Maiko Shiozaki (Executive director, NPO Fairtrade Japan)

Jun Hori (Journalist)

Chikara Funabashi (Project Director, Tobitate Study Abroad Scholarship, Ministry of Education)

Kenji Sekine (CEO, United People Inc.)

Kaito Miwa (Founder, Non-Profit Organization e-Education)

Atsuko Toko Fish (Founder of JWLI Ecosystem / Trustee of the Fish Family Foundation)

《Culture and Sports》

KOM_I (Artist)

Wen Yourou (Novelist)

Yusuke Kimura (Novelist)