On September 3, 2010, Prime Minister Naoto Kan opened a special launch event for the Tokyo exhibition of a joint photographic project by Magnum Photos and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. This photo exhibit documents the impact of antiretroviral treatment on the lives of people living with AIDS around the world and is designed to give a human face to the global effects of the disease. In his opening remarks, Prime Minister Kan, who first became involved in policy on HIV/AIDS as health minister in 1996, spoke about the vital importance of the ongoing work to combat the spread of AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria and lauded the efforts of the Global Fund to combat these deadly diseases worldwide. Japan has been a longstanding supporter of the work of the Global Fund and has contributed nearly US$1.3 billion to the organization since its creation in 2002.
Following the prime minister’s remarks, Michel Sidibé, executive director of UNAIDS, and Michel Kazatchkine, executive director of the Global Fund, spoke about the importance of redoubling our efforts to fight HIV/AIDS around the world, and other prominent leaders in the fight against communicable diseases took part in a panel discussion on the accomplishments so far in responding to the shared global challenge of AIDS as well as the work that still urgently needs to be done. Close to 200 top leaders from politics, business, and the nonprofit community joined the opening discussion, which was organized by the Japan Center for International Exchange / Friends of the Global Fund Japan (FGFJ); the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria; Magnum Photos; and the Asahi Shimbun.
After the opening panel, participants were able to preview the exhibit and took part in a reception, which included remarks from other senior Japanese politicians such as Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Motohisa Furukawa, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Chinami Nishimura, and Representative Ichiro Aisawa.
For more information on this event, please visit the FGFJ website.