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Speech in Hiroshima by U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees expresses hope that Japan will lead in building global peace

by Kyosuke Mizukawa, Staff Writer

Filipo Grandi, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, visited the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park on November 27 to offer flowers at the Cenotaph for the A-bomb Victims. In a speech he made at the Peace Memorial Museum, he said that he hopes Japan, a nation which recovered from the devastation of World War II, will demonstrate leadership in building peace in the world, and he asked that Japan show understanding in accepting refugees.

Mr. Grandi’s speech, organized by Hiroshima City University (Asaminami Ward) and the UNHCR Japan, was attended by some 150 people. Expressing deep concern over the rising sentiment in Europe against accepting refugees, Mr. Grandi said that it is important for each and every country in the world to reach out to refugees with a deep sense of empathy and humanity, and that all nations must fairly share responsibility for lending them support.

He also urged the participants to inspire the public to help refugees and encourage the Japanese government to expand its assistance to refugees. According to Mr. Grandi, Hiroshima, which symbolizes the destruction of war, is also a symbol of hope that can unite and guide us toward maintaining peace. On November 26, Mr. Grandi made a request to the City of Hiroshima to accept refugee students at Hiroshima City University, and during his speech on the following day, he expressed hope that this request will be fulfilled.

Prior to his speech, Mr. Grandi visited the Peace Memorial Museum. After the tour, he told reporters that he was deeply moved by the museum’s displays and was committed to calling for an immediate halt to all wars in order to reduce the number of refugees as well as to prevent generating further refugees.

(Originally published on November 27, 2016)

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