ダウン症の日イベントにおける山中大使挨拶

Distinguished Participants, Ladies and Gentlemen,
 
I would like to start by thanking Down Syndrome International for organizing this conference.
 
Japan continues to attach great importance to human security, which seeks to protect and empower individuals, especially those in vulnerable situations, including persons with disabilities.
 
In this sense, Japan has been co-sponsoring this important event since the first Conference in 2013, with the aim of removing social barriers that hinder the full and effective participation and inclusion of persons with Down syndrome in society.
 
Last June, on the margins of the 16th Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Japan co-hosted a Down syndrome photo exhibition in the UN Headquarters.
 
Japanese photographer Fumio Nabata captured in photos the smiles of children with Down syndrome, which vividly displayed, without words, the potential and positive energy of those children.
 
I believe that the exhibition helped raise awareness of persons with Down syndrome and reduce social preconceptions or psychological barriers against them.
 
Furthermore, Japan has implemented various initiatives to promote health equity for individuals with Down syndrome under the principle of Universal Health Coverage. The government has invested in research, education, and healthcare services tailored to the needs of persons with disabilities including Down syndrome, ensuring their access to quality healthcare and support services.
 
Japan adheres to the key principle of the SDGs, “leaving no one behind,” and will continue its utmost effort to promote international cooperation to empower those under vulnerable situations, including those with Down syndrome.
 
I thank you.