Aya Osawa whose team won the Best Teamwork Award. (Second from right） From left to right: Sato Ikuo, YOO, WON HOO, Aya Osawa, Mako Hayashi

ICU students Aya Osawa (3rd year student, Major/minor: Law/Development Studies), Sato Ikuo (3rd year student, Double Major: Law & International Relations), Mako Hayashi (4th year student, Major/Minor: Law/Business) and YOO, WON HOO (3rd year student) participated in the 2022 Model United Nations Human Rights Council Universal Periodic Review (UPR) held online on August 8, 2022. Aya Osawa's team won the Best Teamwork Award.

The event, aiming at promoting "constructive dialogue," was co-organized by Human Asia, Korea University, International Christian University, City University of Hong Kong, and HSP UTokyo, and supported by the UN Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner. Associate Professor Hiromichi Matsuda served as a jury. About 40 students gathered from universities such as ICU, City University of Hong Kong, Korea University, Seinan Gakuin University, and the University of Tokyo. Students did a simulation of the UN Human Rights Council's Universal Periodic Review* regarding human rights issues in Japan, South Korea, North Korea, and China.

At ICU, Associate Professor Hiromichi Matsuda has received a grant from the Japan International Christian Foundation (JICUF), based in New York, to conduct the "International Active Learning in Law for Peace and Human Rights (International Active Learning in Law for Peace and Human Rights)" program.

*UPR (Universal Periodic Review): It is a system established along with the creation of the Human Rights Council to universally review human rights situations in all the 193 UN member countries.
Reference: https://www.mofa.go.jp/mofaj/gaiko/jinken_r/upr_gai.html

Students Comments:

Aya Osawa
"Human rights" is a concept that has been at the centre of my interest ever since I entered ICU. At a university that upholds this idea as one of its core values, I have been exposed to many experiences examining social issues surrounding this concept throughout my studies. Participating in the Model UN Human Rights Council UPR was not an anomaly. Although this year's competition was conducted online due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it has been a practical hands-on experience working with youths from around East Asia. Critically discussing, debating and writing about human rights with students from our neighbouring countries, such as China and Korea, has been a fruitful experience. I felt the importance of the neutral mindsets that the youth generation seems to have, as I believe that such a "lack of barriers" among nationalities is the critical step towards forging better relations among the region.

Finally, I am honoured to have won the Best Teamwork Award, representing the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) as the Deputy Head of Delegation. I would like to thank Professor Matsuda for providing such a precious opportunity and the organizers who made this competition possible.

Ikuo Sato
As a member of the team representing the Republic of Korea, I have collected information, written part of the reports and answered Senegal's questions. Also, as a member of the team representing France, I have asked China questions.

I have gained support, especially from the teammates living in the ROK, to collect information about the ROK. While I used to recognise the ROK only abstractly as a neighbour, I have been able to learn about the ROK based on the latest information. I was able to understand many things, including the different social backgrounds and the common issues between the ROK and Japan.

When the experience changed my perspective, it provided the opportunity to think about better relationships between the ROK and Japan.

Also, when I questioned China, I talked about the climate change issues. I found it essential to prevent China from rejecting the discussion with the non-interference principle. My strategy was to support the current efforts of China. It resulted in receiving the expected answers. It was an essential practice that I negotiated without tarnishing the other state's reputation when I upheld peaceful diplomacies.

Mako Hayashi
First of all, I consider the primary significance of the Model UPR 2022 was that many participants are allocated to represent countries that are different from their nationals. Under this setting, I was also allocated to a member of the Republic of Korea, which brought me a tough challenge to learn the human rights situation in Korea while at the same time considering the political complexity of constructing statements in front of delegations of other states. Throughout the process, I felt the importance of the role of our young delegation, who can focus on human rights issues in one country and stand up for rights regardless of nationality. I believe this can have a positive impact, especially in Asian countries, because deeply understanding the progress and obstacles of human rights issues in different countries can lead to together tackling the issues for the protection of human rights.

This opportunity made me aware of the importance of studying more about human rights situations in everyday life by constantly reminding the question of "what could be done to advocate for vulnerable groups of people in the world."

YOO, WON HOO
I have been interested in conducting the legal research, however, it was uncertain to know where my interest is in which legal agenda. Since I hoped to enrich the experience to study international law and human rights deeply, it was an opportunity to gain that experience. While I prepared for the contest and listened to the presentations from other members, I could learn the way international law is applied and the way that human rights are guaranteed. Moreover, I understood what human rights are and what they are lacking and what should be improved.

I and my team members have studied and briefed on human rights status as the representative of the Republic of Korea. Among the agendas, I especially researched migrant and immigrant rights. Even though I am from South Korea, I did not know well about the status of migrants and immigrants in my society. Through this contest, I thought that I want to pay attention to the problems that migrants and immigrants face.

Furthermore, I questioned and made a recommendation to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea regarding freedom of movement as a delegation of France. Through this activity, I understand the importance of mutual monitoring that realizes compliance with all human rights status in the international society which the UPR does.