The International Director of Geutanyoe Foundation, Lilianne Fan, is in Japan on a 10 day lecture tour on refugees in Southeast Asia, at the invitation of Amnesty International Japan. From 27 November to 9 December 2016, Amnesty Japan invited Liliane Fan, who is an expert on the Rohingya and on humanitarian response to give a series of public lectures at 4 locations throughout the country in Japan to discuss and exchange opinions on human rights issues mainly concerning about refugees in Southeast Asia focusing on the situation of the Rohingya.
The first briefing on 29 November was at Japan’s House of Councilors (Upper House). The Amnesty International Parliamentary League hosted the briefing called “Current Status of Southeast Asian refugees.” Lillianne presented an overview of refugees in Southeast Asia including the situation of the Rohingya who are facing the discriminatory policy of the Myanmar government and have been driven from their homes.
At the briefing, Amnesty International Parliamentary League consists of bipartisan lawmakers chairman, from Hidehisa Otsuji member of the House of Councilors, “I want to continue to focus on the current situation of the refugees, which has become a global concern.” In addition, Mrs. Hiroe Makiyama member of the House of Councilors said in her opening remarks, “I want to continue working for the international human rights problem in the future.”
On 30 November 2016 (Wednesday), our International Director Lilianne Fan held a lecture “The Refugee Crisis and the Role of Japan” co-hosted by Kanagawa University and Amnesty International Japan. Over 50 people attended the lecture. 65 million people have been driven from their homes by conflict, persecution or disasters throughout the world. As part of its global “iWelcome” campaign on refugees, Amnesty International Japan decided to invite specialist to address the issues of refugee protection and emergency assistance for refugees in countries such as Indonesia and Malaysia.
The audience was very moved by the Geutanyoe Foundation film, “Sahabat Laut” especially how the Acehnese fishermen rescued refugees and how the community and government of Aceh provided assistance and welcomed the survivors, treating them with compassion and dignity. The film now has Japanese subtitles.
Lilianne also presented Geutanyoe Foundation’s work with Rohingya refugees in Aceh and Malaysia, emphasising YG’s focus on protecting and empowering refugees through education, access to health and skills development and the importance of always working with the local host communities to welcome refugees.
Public lectures will also be held in Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya and on 6 November Lilianne has been invited by UNHCR to brief officials from the Ministry of Justice