ISSJ 50th Aniversary Celebration

 

R. FRANK
ISS President

Fifty years is more than a respectable age. It is a golden event. I am very happy to have been able to arrange to be with you on this important occasion.

International Social Service, as you are aware, is a group of agencies around the world, working for the same goal i.e. helping families and individuals caught between countries. The national branches, such as ISS Japan, see themselves primarily and fundamentally as being set up to reach out to other countries and territories in close cooperation with the other members of the ISS network.

Inter-country case work is the main and basic work of all ISS units . It is an activity that is enshrined in the agency's Constitution. It aims at assisting people all people without discrimination. These people always have to overcome personal or family problems as a result of migration or international movement. Individuals move from country to country for many reasons. In today's world they may fleeing poverty, wars, natural disasters, civil upheaval. They may be seeking better opportunities in life for themselves and their families. They may be in a country other than their own following marriages, adoptions, or pursuing an international career. Even former diplomats have found themselves in limbo when their countries are later torn apart by civil wars.

ISS is a unique resource in that it is able to look at individual situation and help out with patience and determination. Examples abound. I am sure that you will have ample information on some of the situations that ISS Japan is approached to help resolve.

An ISS case is like a puzzle. Each partner (individuals or agencies) may have - and indeed often have - a limited perception of the elements of the situation. International casework consists in piercing together these elements in order that a solution can be found or a decision can be made in the best interest of all the persons involved. Inter-country casework thus establishes a chain of cooperation and connections extending across boarders and each link is vital to the outcome. We call these links Branches or Affiliated bureaus or Correspondents.

Because this problem solving mechanisms of inter-country cases involves an ISS unit (branch or affiliated bureau) or a Correspondent in two different countries at least, ISS has, over the years, built up - and constantly is in the process of building up - a wide network of cooperative agencies. The strength and viability of these partners very much depend on the commitment of the people that are able to devote time and energy to maintain and develop the work locally.

As International President of ISS, this is my first opportunity to be exposed to the work of ISS Japan. It is so rewarding to see so many friends gathered together to celebrate the anniversary of 50 years of dedication of generations of professional staff and Board members who have made of ISS Japan one of the major link of our organization within this region.

I have been informed of the history of ISS Japan and of the ups and downs in its struggle to maintain itself amid changing environment. I was particularly made aware of the difficult times between 1989 and 1993 when the relationship between ISS Japan and the rest of the ISS network was going through tension. But I have also been made aware of the extraordinary courage demonstrated on both sides to redress the situation. Ever since, the governance of ISS Japan, its activities, the dedication of the staff and of the Board members and the relationship with the ISS governing bodies have followed a steady path forward.

It is not for me to elaborate on the work of ISS Japan. In fact all of us sometimes feel that we should know more about the experience and expertise of your office, and for example about what ISS Japan has been doing with Cambodia.

I would like to underline the work of ISS in the field of training and networking during the recent years. Traditionally, ISS Japan organizes regular training seminars whereby it brings together several agencies' staff to learn from one another in particular regarding child welfare and child protection. That is an initiative that I believe deserves great support.

The opportunity provided to the social workers from the Philippines Department of Social Welfare and Development, whereby the social workers are invited to spend a year and observe for themselves the conditions and problems facing the migrants from The Philippines, is really commendable. From this exercise, the social workers from the Philippines can better understand the needs of their fellow citizens living and working abroad. The cases of the children they may have helped to adopt by their relatives suddenly become real. And the challenges and the needs for ongoing monitoring makes sense to them in a renewed perspective. We expect ISS Japan to continue to play this role vis-a-vis other Correspondent countries within the context of the regional activities coordinated through ISS Hong Kong.

Taking advantage of the partial revision of the Immigration Act of Japan in 2000, ISS Japan has done a remarkable work in building awareness of the implication of the revised law on people who are non-Japanese. The implications of the new law have long reaching impact on several categories of foreigners be they resident, refugees, adopted children or those who are seeking naturalization. This work of helping people to understand how their lives can be affected by law and regulations of their host country is a traditional role of ISS. We can only hope that ISS Japan will increase its involvement in this regard.

In May this year (2002), ISS Japan hosted the second ISS Regional training seminar which participants from Australia, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Thailand, Taiwan and Japan of course attended. Allowing ISS people to meet and discuss their common concerns is an invaluable service.

I should like to use this opportunity to thank all those, individuals or corporations that have made donations to support the work of ISS Japan. I wish to mention in particular the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Justice. A special thank you also to the High Commission for Refugees who has used ISS Japan for some of its programs.

Before concluding, however, I wish to remind this honorable audience of ISS Japan Board and friends, of the need for active solidarity. As I said, ISS is a group of national entities. It is governed by an International Council elected from among the representatives of the member countries. An Executive Committee elected from the Council membership is responsible for the operations of the agency. The administration of the organization is carried out by a Secretary General with support staff based in Geneva Switzerland. ISS operates under agreed Statutes that are recognized by the Swiss Civil Code. In carrying out its objectives the ISS provides liaison between the social services of the countries involved. This is one of the major tasks of the General Secretariat. The General Secretariat is funded by the fees from the branches and affiliated bureaus. Without this support, ISS would have gone out of business.

The role of ISS Japan like other units consequently requires ongoing commitment to support the Geneva office. I hope that, not only ISS Japan will maintain its support, but that it will help to identify new sources of funding, especially in this country, and I will be very pleased to receive your suggestions and to count on your involvement.

I wish ISS Japan every success and look forward to many other similar celebrations.