Japan accepts 3 refugees in first half of 2017, despite record asylum seekers
Japan accepted just three refugees in the first half of 2017 despite receiving a record 8,561 fresh asylum applications, the government said on Tuesday, highlighting the nation’s reluctance to accept foreigners.
Only four refugees were accepted in the first half of 2016, when fresh asylum applications totaled 5,011, the Justice Ministry said. The Human Rights Watch in January described Japan’s record on asylum seekers as “abysmal”.
Despite being one of the most generous government donors to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) - Japan was ranked the fourth biggest contributor in 2016 after the US, the EU and Germany - it has long been closed to immigration and reluctant to accept refugees.
Since 1982 - Japan signed the UN refugee convention in 1981 and enacted its refugee recognition law the following year - the country has accepted nearly 700 refugees.
Applications have risen sharply over recent years, but recognition rates remain low. In 2016, a record 10,901 people applied or appealed rejected asylum claims, with the highest number of applicants coming from Indonesia, Nepal, the Philippines and Turkey. Japan accepted 28, or less than one percent of applicants.
Only two percent of the population is foreigner.
Japan refuses more than 99 percent of its applicants
Only four refugees were accepted in the first half of 2016, when fresh asylum applications totaled 5,011, the Justice Ministry said. The Human Rights Watch in January described Japan’s record on asylum seekers as “abysmal”.
Despite being one of the most generous government donors to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) - Japan was ranked the fourth biggest contributor in 2016 after the US, the EU and Germany - it has long been closed to immigration and reluctant to accept refugees.
Since 1982 - Japan signed the UN refugee convention in 1981 and enacted its refugee recognition law the following year - the country has accepted nearly 700 refugees.
Applications have risen sharply over recent years, but recognition rates remain low. In 2016, a record 10,901 people applied or appealed rejected asylum claims, with the highest number of applicants coming from Indonesia, Nepal, the Philippines and Turkey. Japan accepted 28, or less than one percent of applicants.
Only two percent of the population is foreigner.
Japan refuses more than 99 percent of its applicants
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