Tokyo, Japan—UPF-Japan held its 28th Peace Diplomats Forum on the theme, “Refugees, Terrorism, and Nationalism in Europe and the Future Prospects,” at the International Leadership Conference (ILC) 2016 in Tokyo. The program, which took place on November 11, 2016, was co-organized by the Institute for Peace Policies (IPP), an affiliated organization.
Among the 67 participants were 36 foreign diplomats (six of whom were ambassadors) from 27 embassies, as well as current and former Japanese leaders, including parliamentarians and former ambassadors; scholars; and entrepreneurs, and representatives of UN and civil society organizations.
The forum began with opening remarks, which were given by Dr. Yong Cheon Song, regional chair of UPF-Japan, who emphasized the need to transcend boundaries between races, nationalities and religions for creating peace in the world.
Dr. Eiji Tokuno, chair of UPF-Japan, welcomed the participants and introduced the keynote speaker, Dr. Kumiko Haba, a professor at Aoyama Gakuin University in Tokyo, who specializes in European and international politics.
In her speech, Dr. Haba explained the issues of “Immigrants and Xenophobia,” and spoke of the importance of opening borders and accepting heterogeneity, as well as creating new institutions and new value with immigrants and refugees.
She concluded her speech by saying, “I would like to collaborate with you and learn from you, the Peace Diplomats Forum.”
At the end of the program, Dr. Song and Dr. Tokuno awarded certificates to two new Ambassadors for Peace.