Special lecture given by the representative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in JapanHachioji Campus

On Friday, November 8, 2024, Teikyo University Faculty of Economics Department of International Economy Senior Assistant Professor welcomed Mr. Reiki Ito, Representative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Japan Senior Assistant Professor to give a special lecture titled "Refugee Issues in the Middle East: The Case of Syrian Refugees" in "World Affairs (Middle East) I", which is taught by Hiroaki Ito.

In this lecture, Mr. Ito began by explaining the definition of a refugee, the fact that the number of refugees and internally displaced persons in the world has been increasing since 2011, and that many of the refugees are flowing to neighboring countries. He then spoke about the complex Middle East situation and the new humanitarian crisis, including the unstable situation in Syria in particular, and how many Syrian refugees who fled to Lebanon due to the armed conflict in neighboring Lebanon are being forced to choose to return to Syria. Finally, Mr. Ito concluded the lecture by saying, "To solve humanitarian problems, political problems must be solved." During the Q&A session, students asked many questions about the situation in countries that accept refugees and about refugees in Japan, and Mr. Ito carefully answered each one.

Our university has participated in the Refugee Higher Education Programme (RHEP) run by the UNHCR Japan Office and the UNHCR Association since 2019, and currently two Syrian and Afghan refugee students are studying at our university. Our university will continue to promote efforts towards achieving the SDGs.

For more information on Teikyo University's efforts toward the SDGs, click here
Click here for Senior Assistant Professor Hiroaki Ito's activity report
For more information about Faculty of Economics Department of International Economy, please click here

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