Outline of the assembly of "World Refugee Day 2011 in Kansai" Assembly for the sixtieth anniversary of United Nations Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and the thirtieth anniversary of the affiliation of Japan The 20th June is "World Refugee Day" resolved at UN General Assembly in 2000. On the day, we think on refugee all over the world and determine once more to establish their human rights. This year is the sixtieth anniversary of UN Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees adopted at the special UN General Assembly on the 28 June 1951. Also, prior to the adoption, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) began its activities on the 1st January 1951. Japan became a member nation of this convention on the 3rd October 1981, and this year is the thirtieth anniversary. In Japan, the annual applicants for recognition of refugee status have counted more than 1,000 since 2008. In 2010, the applicants counted 1,202. In 2010, however, the Minister of Justice of Japan recognized only 39 applicants as refugees. Many unrecognized refugees have nowhere to go and they live solitary and forsaken in this country. Refugees seek for their peaceful home and safe life with their family. Isn't this desire the same as ours? We send our deep sympathies for the victims of the Great East Japan Earthquake, and we would like to extend our activities with all of you for ensuring the lives and safety of foreign residents including refugees and detainees in Immigration Detention Centers. Executive committee for the assembly of "World Refugee Day 2011 in Kansai" pagetop Contents Relay Talk of Refugees in Japan Lectures Keynote　Lecture "The history and future of UN Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees: The roles of citizens' society and NGO" Professor Osamu Aragaki, Kansai Gaidai University　 "Refugee reception of Japan after 30 years since the affiliation to UN Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees: Court cases" Yoshihiro Sorano, Lawyer, Member of Japan Lawyers Network for Refugees Assembly of "World Refugee Day 2011 in Kansai" was held at Sumai-Jōhō Center in Osaka city on 26th June, 2011 pagetop organizer: Executive committee for the assembly of "World Refugee Day 2011 in Kansai" backer :Amnesty International Japan office: RAFIQ JAPAN (The Network aiming at the Coexistence with the Refugees in Japan) http://rafiq.jp/eng/ mailto: rafiqtomodati@yahoo.co.jp 6-24 Oote-cho Takatsuki city, Oosaka 569-0078 FAX: 072-684-0231 Copyright of all contents (except for the part) will belong to their relationship and their Executive committee for the assembly.