Topic: Combating the Rise of Xenophobic Violence
Country: Japan
Delegate Name: Eamon Whalen
School: Forest Hills Northern High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Japan position papers GLIMUN 2011 committees
The state of Japan is no stranger to xenophobia. Countless years of territorial aggression, colonialism, and ethnic discrimination stain our nation’s past. Japan feels inexpressible remorse for the past words and actions of its government. It is, for this reason, that Japan holds an imperative seat on the Committee for xenophobic prevention. United under a post-war constitution which explicitly states that all are equal under the law, the Japanese government and people are firmly committed to abolishing racial intolerance. Said commitment will not only be observed inside Japan, but also in the international community. We look forward to sharing with the rest of the world what we consider to be a very successful ethnic relations policy.
Japan acknowledges that successful xenophobic prevention requires far more than verbal commitment. We firmly believe that the key to ethnic unity lies in education. Xenophobia is not something you are born with; it is something you acquire. For this reason, Japan has instituted new school curriculums that teach children about the importance of diversity and its implications. Japan also believes that legal recognition of ethnic minorities is an important step to abolishing racism. The Ainu people, having endured racial discrimination since the rule of the Tokugawa Shogunate, have seen dramatic improvement in their lifestyle since their official recognition as ethnic Japanese by the government in 2008. Through a combination of policy and education, Japan has effectively reduced xenophobia amongst its people.
However, domestic xenophobia is only half the problem. Japan feels strongly that the key to combating xenophobia in a globalized world is international cooperation. Hatred towards other people is certainly not confined to political borders, so why should its corresponding policy be as well? The notion that countries can deal with xenophobia and racism without the help of the UN is a major impediment to progress. Japan would like see a push towards international anti-xenophobia and counter-terrorism policy in the near future. Hatred is not a political problem but a human problem. The state of Japan stands by its fellow nations in their struggle to create a co-existent world.
