Permanent Mission of Japan to the United Nations

2004 Event

Calling Attention to Plight of Afghan Children, "Afghanistan Smiles" Celebrates Their Strength of Life

21 May, 2004

The "Afghanistan Smiles" exhibition, featuring photos by Japanese actress Norika Fujiwara celebrating the strength of life of Afghani children, was on display in New York from 10 to 30 June, 2004.

"Afghanistan Smiles" focuses on the children of Afghanistan, capturing their strength of life even amidst the hardships of life in that country. Inspired by the aftermath of the September 2001 terrorist attacks in New York, Ms. Fujiwara visited Afghanistan in order to help call attention to the plight of Afghans. Her photographs bring into sharp focus the continuing and desperate need for assistance there, at a time when the attention of the world is focused on Iraq.

Guided by the concept of Human Security, Japan is actively involved in the reconstruction process in Afghanistan. Japan hosted the International Conference on Assistance to Afghanistan in Tokyo in January 2002, and has snce contributed USD 630 million in humanitarian assistance. An additional USD 400 million of aid was announced by Dr. Sadako Ogata, president of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), at the Berlin Conference on Afghanistan Reconstruction in March of this year.