ダウン症の日イベントにおける孫崎公使挨拶
令和5年3月21日
Distinguished Participants, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I would like to start by thanking the Down Syndrome International for organizing this event fully in person, overcoming difficulties brought by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Japan has put great emphasis on human security, which aspires to the protection and empowerment of individuals, in particular those in vulnerable situations, including persons with disabilities. In this vein, Japan has been co-sponsoring this event since the first World Down Syndrome Day Conference in 2013, aiming at removing social barriers that hinder full and effective participation and inclusion of persons with Down syndrome in society.
This year, on the margins of the 16th session of the Conference of States Parties to the Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, in June. Japan will cosponsor a photo exhibition titled ‘Positive Energies,’ which features children with Down syndrome and their families around the world. Mr. NABATA Fumio, the Japanese photographer, has captured in the photos the smiles of children with Down syndrome, who are full of positive energy. This exhibition will surely raise awareness of persons with disabilities and remove social preconceptions or psychological barriers against them. The purpose of this photo exhibition resonates with Article 8 of the Convention, and we look forward to many of you coming back to see his photos here at the UN in June.
Raising awareness about Down syndrome is crucially important to achieving an inclusive society, and I believe that this event will be an excellent opportunity to contribute to the empowerment of persons with Down syndrome. Japan will continue to strive to overcome the challenges ahead and thus realize the empowerment of all individuals, based on the concept of human security.
I would like to start by thanking the Down Syndrome International for organizing this event fully in person, overcoming difficulties brought by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Japan has put great emphasis on human security, which aspires to the protection and empowerment of individuals, in particular those in vulnerable situations, including persons with disabilities. In this vein, Japan has been co-sponsoring this event since the first World Down Syndrome Day Conference in 2013, aiming at removing social barriers that hinder full and effective participation and inclusion of persons with Down syndrome in society.
This year, on the margins of the 16th session of the Conference of States Parties to the Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, in June. Japan will cosponsor a photo exhibition titled ‘Positive Energies,’ which features children with Down syndrome and their families around the world. Mr. NABATA Fumio, the Japanese photographer, has captured in the photos the smiles of children with Down syndrome, who are full of positive energy. This exhibition will surely raise awareness of persons with disabilities and remove social preconceptions or psychological barriers against them. The purpose of this photo exhibition resonates with Article 8 of the Convention, and we look forward to many of you coming back to see his photos here at the UN in June.
Raising awareness about Down syndrome is crucially important to achieving an inclusive society, and I believe that this event will be an excellent opportunity to contribute to the empowerment of persons with Down syndrome. Japan will continue to strive to overcome the challenges ahead and thus realize the empowerment of all individuals, based on the concept of human security.