Yokohama's Youth Discuss 'Peace': The 2nd Yokohama Peace Circle to be Held!

Yokohama City will hold the '2nd Yokohama Peace Circle' on June 20th, designated as 'World Refugee Day' by the UN, to foster deeper understanding of peace among youth and connect it to action.

Young participants, primarily high school and university students, will gain a deeper understanding of the backgrounds of individuals forced to leave their homes due to various factors such as climate change. They will also discuss 'How to Create a Peaceful Future' together with young people with refugee backgrounds, and their voices will be delivered to the United Nations.

Participation in the dialogue requires advance registration, but observation is open to anyone without prior application.

We encourage you to attend and witness this opportunity to connect with the aspirations for peace held by the youth who will shape the future.

Event Overview

Date and Time: Saturday, June 20, 2026, 13:00 - 15:00

Venue: Kanagawa University Minatomirai Campus, 1st Floor (4-5-3 Minatomirai, Nishi-ku, Yokohama)

Participants: Approximately 30 individuals, including high school students, university students, vocational school students, and international students (registration closes once capacity is reached. Please check the web page below for details on participant recruitment).

Facilitator: Mr. Takao Toda, Representative of NPO Forum 2050

Sponsorship: United Nations Information Centre

Cooperation: UNHCR Representation for Japan, NPO Forum 2050, UNHCR Association of Japan, RHEP Refugee Education Promotion Association

Web Page: https://www.city.yokohama.lg.jp/city-info/seisaku/kokusai/peace/keihatsu/peacecircle.html

Scenes from the '1st Yokohama Peace Circle' (Held in March 2026)

Schedule for the Day (including related events)

10:00 Event 'World Refugee Day 2026 in Minatomirai: Flowers Blooming Across Borders' begins

12:30 Screening of 'Radio DADAB' (*)

13:00 Yokohama Peace Circle begins

13:10 Talk Session & Discussion

<Theme>

Creating a Peaceful Future Through Dialogue with Youth from Refugee Backgrounds

<Talk Session Speakers>

Mr. Takao Toda (Facilitator), Ms. Christina Deakin (from Radio DADAB production group EFJ), Students with refugee backgrounds

15:00 Yokohama Peace Circle ends

16:00 Event 'World Refugee Day 2026 in Minatomirai: Flowers Blooming Across Borders' ends

(*) 'Radio DADAB'

An official selection of the 20th Refugee Film Festival. This film depicts the lives of refugees and the impact of climate change from the perspective of a stateless female journalist born in the Dadaab refugee camp in Kenya.

Events by the Youth Refugee Platform also held concurrently!

The Youth Refugee Platform (YRP) event, 'World Refugee Day 2026 in Minatomirai: Flowers Blooming Across Borders,' will feature booths including 'Peace Flower' creation and workshops by YRP member organizations.

Event Hours: 10:00 - 16:00 (This event does not require registration)

(*) What is the 'Youth Refugee Platform'?

Formed on the occasion of World Refugee Day in 2020, it is a gathering of youth organizations and individuals actively engaged with various aspects of 'refugees.' It operates under the three guiding principles of 'Resonance, Co-walking, Co-creation.'

What is a 'UN Peace Circle'?

A youth-led dialogue platform aimed at deriving solutions to pressing global issues. The implementation period is from September 2025 to September 2026. The UN is calling for its implementation in various regions worldwide. The outcomes of these dialogues are expected to be reflected in the 'UN Secretary-General's Report on Youth Contributions to Peace,' scheduled for release in September 2026.

What is the 'Yokohama Peace Circle'?

Yokohama is hosting the 'Peace Circle,' a global initiative called for by the UN, as the first municipality in Japan to do so. It creates a space where future leaders, primarily youth, can think about peace from a global perspective, sending a message of peace from Yokohama to the world.

Article about the Yokohama Peace Circle from UN Headquarters here (in English)

https://www.un.org/en/peaceandsecurity/hear-us/peace-circles/yokohama-peace-circle

Inquiries about the event

International Peace and Diversity Promotion Division, Citizens Affairs Bureau, City of Yokohama sh-peace@city.yokohama.lg.jp