Arfiya Eri, a Uyghur woman who was re-elected as a lawmaker in Japan in October, has been appointed Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs.
Japan’s Cabinet named the parliamentary vice- ministers of the second Ishiba Cabinet on November 13, 2024. Prime Minister Ishiba presented the new appointments to the parliamentary vice ministers at the Prime Minister’s Official Residence and a souvenir photo was taken.
Arfiya Eri, a Uyghur woman who was re-elected as a member of parliament in October, was appointed Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs.
“I WILL DO MY BEST”
After his appointment, Eri wrote on social media, “Today, I was appointed Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs. It is a very humbling experience. In recent years, the international situation, in all aspects, including security, human rights, and humanitarian issues, is facing what can be called the greatest disorder of order since the end of World War II. It has been two years since I first challenged a national election under the slogan ‘Japan leads the world’. I will do my best to represent Japan’s vision for its future in the international community,” she said.
WHO IS ARFIYA ERI
Arfiya Eri is a member of Japan’s lower house of parliament, the House of Representatives (Diet), from the Liberal Democratic Party, representing the 5th District of Chiba Prefecture. At just 36 years old, Arfiya, of Uyghur origin, is the youngest woman in Japan’s parliament.
In 2023, Time Magazine named Arfiya one of the 100 Most Influential Young Global Leaders. Arfiya has a decade of experience in public policy, having worked for the United Nations and the Bank of Japan before entering politics.
Arfiya holds a B.A. in Foreign Service and an M.A. in Eurasian, Russian and East European Studies (specializing in modern Uyghur Studies) from Georgetown University’s Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service.
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