Excellencies, Distinguished Officials, Excellencies, Ladies and
Gentlemen,

Thank you for the kind invitation to be here today.  It is
an honour to take part in this important workshop. Congratulations
on the subject you have chosen; Migrant Integration is one of the
major alternatives available to you in managing Japan's migration,
demographic and labour market challenges.

This is my second visit to Japan since I began my mandate as
Director General of IOM 18 months ago, and I am particularly
pleased to have this opportunity to return to Japan and visit
Yokohama City.     

Introduction

Last year, I had the good fortune to attend a symposium in
Nagoya on integration issues amidst the global economic
crisis. 

I took away from that experience a deep appreciation of the
Government of Japan's efforts at all levels -- international,
national and local -- to assist migrants and their families during
a time of great financial crisis.  

Japan's assistance to migrants in 2009 through IOM globally
totalled approximately USD68 million; this includes a
“Bridging Course Fund for Children”.  Most
recently, IOM received an additional USD 3 million for assistance
to Haiti. And I was just in Haiti where I witnessed a Japan
Self-Defence Force Engineering Contingent helping the Haitian
people.  

I am grateful for this opportunity to witness Japan's admirable
efforts here at home, in the Kanagawa Prefecture, to advance the
integration of migrants into Japanese society.

IOM takes great pride in being asked to help organize this
annual symposium on migrant integration; we work in close
cooperation with Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.  We hope
that Japan will continue to consider IOM as a partner in
co-organizing this annual event—this represents a singular
honour and opportunity for our Organization.

Kanagawa is the third prefecture to host this event following
Shizuoka Prefecture in 2008 and Aichi Prefecture in 2009.

In my remarks today, I would like to make three
points.  

The first, concerns the appropriateness of holding this workshop
in the Kanagawa Prefecture, and more broadly the importance which
IOM attaches to our relationship with the Government and people of
Japan.  

I. Japan-IOM Partnership: Integration
Re-visited

The Kanagawa Prefecture is a vibrant symbol of migrant
integration, hosting as it does, a growing number of foreign
nationals from more than 160 countries.  More than 3000 of
these foreign nationals are re-settled Indo-Chinese refugees from
among the 11,000 resettled overall in Japan since the 1970s. 
The initial resettlement of these Indochinese refugees began three
decades ago with the “Comprehensive Plan of
Action”.  In a very real sense therefore, it was the
Indo-Chinese resettlement program that marked the very beginning of
IOM's close relationship with the Government and people of
Japan. 

During the past 30 years, IOM has been a partner with Japan in
your government's efforts to reap maximum benefits, for all
concerned, from well-managed migration and to meet the inherent
challenges associated with human mobility.  Together, we have,
for example: directed critical assistance to victims of human
trafficking including shelters, psycho-social counselling,
transportation and reintegration assistance; provided life-saving
support to IDPs and refugees; and carried-out vital humanitarian
assistance at home and abroad, most recently, for example, in
Haiti.

All of these initiatives have advanced the principle of human
security – a noble objective Japan has pioneered and
continues to champion.     

Resettlement of Myanmar
refugees

Recently, the Government of Japan undertook the admirable,
ground-breaking initiative of resettling 30 Myanmar refugees a
year, for a trial period of three years.  Japan can be proud
of this initiative.  This is the first full-fledged
resettlement programme of its kind in Asia.  This pioneering
project will almost certainly pave the way for similar programmes
elsewhere in the future.  Since my visit last year, I have
used Japan's Resettlement initiative as an example of one way of
dealing with a country's continuing migration, demographic and
labor market challenges.

Beyond resettlement, this Japanese initiative is an important
test case for the eventual adoption of a comprehensive approach to
migration --- one that addresses the entire migration cycle ,
including both pre-departure orientation and training, and post
arrival resettlement support --- all designed to promote the full
integration of refugees.

Support Programme to Facilitate
School Education for Foreign Children

Another important development since my last visit is the
“Support Programme to Facilitate School Education for Foreign
Children,” funded by the Japanese Ministry of Education,
Sports, Culture, Science and Technology. 

This programme acknowledges that migrant children are a distinct
sub-group of foreign residents -- one with special assistance
needs.   The project responds in particular, to the
global economic crisis, which saw many Japanese-Brazilians and
Japanese-Peruvians lose their jobs.  As a result, many were
unable to continue paying tuition fees for their children attending
various private schools in Japan.  While some of these
children have been able to make the transition to Japanese public
schools -- which are free of charge across the country -- others
have faced a formidable language barrier that has blocked their
progress.  

Since migrant children, like any other children, form the fabric
of future generations, the Japanese Government acknowledged that
assistance was required immediately to help migrant children
transition to Japanese public schools and integrate into host
communities.  Under this USD 39 million programme
(JPY3,725,754,000) , IOM Tokyo manages the “Bridging Course
Fund for Children.” The Fund has established 34 bridging
schools and community spaces for migrant children; there they learn
Japanese language and culture, and pursue academic
studies.  

Five of the 34 bridging schools are located right here in
Kanagawa Prefecture --- and we are very pleased that
representatives of the bridging schools are here with us today.
They will be delivering presentations later this afternoon. In a
very real sense then, what you are doing in the resettlement and
school bridging programmes is re-kindling the flames of hope lit by
your resettlement program of 30 years ago – an outstanding
achievement.

The second point I wish to make is the importance of programmes
in the areas of migrant's pre-departure orientation; and host
community awareness-raising.   

II. Pre-Departure Orientation of Migrants
and Awareness-Raising

We are pleased that this workshop will address these important
elements of a successful integration program preparing migrants
and, at the same time, preparing the host community.

In this regard, we thank the two international experts on
migrant integration, who are here with us today, Ms. Meri-Sisko
Eskola from the Government of Finland, and my IOM colleague Ms.
Pindie Stephen who, like I, has travelled here from IOM
Headquarters at Geneva.

Migrant pre-departure orientation and host-community
awareness-raising are closely linked.  Migrant integration is
a “two-way street” of mutual accommodation whereby
newcomers and members of the host society adapt to one another.

Under Japan's current pilot refugee resettlement programme IOM
will conduct pre-departure cultural orientation and language
training in refugee camps in Thailand where the refugees are
currently hosted.

Simultaneously, we will produce group and individual profiles of
resettling refugees for the purpose of awareness-raising activities
in receiving communities --- seminars, workshops, and information
campaigns in the Japanese language --- in close cooperation with
service providers, educators, local and national authorities, and
the media.

This approach builds on lessons learned and best practices. We
look forward, in a year's time, to reviewing and evaluating the
results of this initial pilot project

My third brief and final point concerns the importance, I
believe, of continuing the constructive dialogue in Japan on a
future national migration framework; one that fully engages
communities and protects and promotes the rights of
migrants.   

III. Way Forward

Through my discussions with various counterparts this week---
including the leaders of the new government --- there appears to be
an informal consensus emerging that a national migration policy
framework is essential for sustaining the community-based approach
to migrant integration.  Moreover, the public debate on a
national migration framework --- spearheaded by politicians, the
business community, and various academics --- appears to support
the adoption of a more sustainable, humane migration management
system.  

Underpinning migration management systems is the human rights of
migrants, whatever their situation, status or classification. 
Human rights are the foundation on which integration policies and
practices are best established. 

IOM stands ready to support the efforts of the Government of
Japan and its partners, to seize the opportunities human mobility
offers, including the integration of migrants and their children
into Japanese society.

Conclusion

The Japan- IOM partnership was forged 30 years ago through the
Indo-Chinese refugee resettlement program. As more than 3000 of
these 11,000 are today settled in the Kanagawa prefecture, it is
highly symbolic and appropriate that this integration workshop and
seminars should be held here as the Japanese Government re-visits
and re-launches a program to integrate some Myanmar refugees in
Japan, and (b) to start a programme to facilitate schooling for
foreign children

Japan is also to be commended and congratulated for its effort
to develop a holistic approach to migrant integration – one
that starts with preparing both the migrants and the host community
for the “two-way” process of acceptance and
adjustment-- so key to successful integration.

Out of these efforts in emerging gradually an informal consensus
on the need and desirability of forging a future national migration
framework.

IOM is honoured to be associated with Japan, even in a modest way,
in these noble efforts.