The IDC, together with IDC members in Japan, including the Japan Association for Refugees (JAR), Forum for Refugees Japan (FRJ), the Japan Federation of Bar Associations (JFBA) and UNHCR, have successfully held the first-ever national roundtable on alternatives to immigration detention in Japan.
Meeting the Japanese government and Ministry of Justice over four days, the IDC presented the findings of our research into alternatives to immigration detention, and explored their application in the Japanese context.
The national roundtable followed the outcomes of the previous 2009 visit by IDC representatives and the East Asian Regional Alternatives to Detention Roundtable held in South Korea in March, 2010. The Japanese government made a number of improvements to immigration detention following this roundtable, including:
- A clear policy to not detain children
- Reduction in overall detention numbers
- Partnership with JFBA and legal counselling
- Discussions on alternatives to detention
In addition, a Detention Monitoring Committee has also been established in the past year.
The IDC was given open access to a number of immigration detention centres during this recent visit, one of the first international organizations given such access. There are continuing concerns about the ongoing detention of asylum seekers and vulnerable groups, long-term detention and the impact on mental health, including high levels of self-harm.
Japan currently does not have any community-based reception system, and NGOs worked together during the roundtable to develop a range of strategies in expanding alternatives in the local context, including service models, policy and campaign activities. Further activities are planning to continue this work.
We are excited by the developments in Japan, and the work of our members in pushing for change in immigration detention law, policy and practice.
Grant Mitchell
15th, October 2011
