Together with Para Athletes and ArtistsGlobal Appeal 2020 To End Stigma and Discrimination against Persons Affected by Leprosy

Since 2006, The Nippon Foundation has issued an annual Global Appeal to end stigma and discrimination against persons affected by leprosy, joined each year by influential individuals and organizations in conjunction with World Leprosy Day in January. Via the launch ceremony, we aim to foster a correct understanding of leprosy throughout the world and bring an end to the discrimination associated with the disease.

In the Paralympic year of 2020, the 15th Global Appeal aims for an inclusive society together with International Paralympic Committee (IPC), and the launch ceremony will be held in Tokyo.

The ceremony will invite persons affected by leprosy from Japan and the world, as well as Duane Kale (Vice President of the IPC), Yukinobu Ike (Captain of the Japanese Wheelchair Rugby Team) and Miki Matheson (The Nippon Foundation Paralympic Support Center) to launch the appeal to end stigma against leprosy.

The ceremony will also feature special collaborative music performed by two talented artists, the blind singer-songwriter Koshi Kishita, who is known as the Stevie Wonder of Japan, and Manami Ito, a Paralympian and violinist.

Prior to the ceremony, as part of the events related to this year’s Global Appeal, speakers from different backgrounds will take part in a roundtable discussion on the theme: “Difference Is Natural.”

For inquiries and registration, please refer to the contact information below.

The 15th Global Appeal 2020
To End Stigma and Discrimination against Persons Affected by Leprosy

Global Appeal 2020 Launch Ceremony

Date	Monday, January 27, 2020 17:00 – 18:30（Doors Open: 16:00)
Venue	ANA Intercontinental Tokyo (B1F)Access Wheelchair Parking（B2F, B3F）
Organizer	The Nippon Foundation
Endorser	International Paralympic Committee
Partner	The Nippon Foundation Paralympic Support Center
Program	17:00- Opening/Organizers’ Remarks 17:20- Remarks by Persons Affected by Leprosy 17:40- Music Performance by Artists 18:00- Launch of Global Appeal 2020 English-Japanese simultaneous interpretation available

Roundtable “Difference Is Natural”

Date	Monday, January 27, 2020 14:30 – 16:00 (Doors Open: 14:00)
Venue	ANA Intercontinental Tokyo (B1F)
Organizer	Sasakawa Health Foundation
Supporter	Center for Human Rights Education and Training
Partner	The Nippon Foundation Paralympic Support Center
Program	14:30- Opening 14:35- Keynote Speech 14:45- Discussion 15:30- Q&A 15:50- Closing English-Japanese simultaneous interpretation available