Gandhi Peace Prize-ceremonie georganiseerd door de regering van India

TOKYO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Tijdens een ceremonie gehouden door de Indiase regering in Rashtrapati Bhawan, het officiële huis van de president, op 26 februari 2019 (lokale tijd), presenteerde de Indiase president Ram Nath Kovind de Gandhi-vredesprijs aan de voorzitter van de Nippon Foundation Yohei Sasakawa. De Indiase premier Narendra Modi presenteerde de heer Sasakawa ook een handwerk-voorwerp en een cheque van 10 miljoen roepies (ongeveer 15 miljoen yen, of 140 duizend dollar). De heer Sasakawa is de eerste Japanse onderdaan die de prijs heeft ontvangen.

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President Kovind, die de prijs presenteerde, erkende het werk van de heer Sasakawa door te zeggen: “Hij heeft ons geholpen cruciale veldslagen te winnen in de oorlog tegen lepra – om de ziekte te voorkomen en uit te roeien, en om het bijbehorende stigma en de discriminatie te beëindigen.” Hij voegde eraan toe: “Namens India moet ik de diensten van de heer Sasakawa en zijn stichting waarderen.”

Indian President Presents Award to The Nippon Foundation Chairman Yohei Sasakawa in Recognition of Years of Work to Eliminate Leprosy

Gandhi Peace Prize ceremony hosted by Government of India

TOKYO–(BUSINESS WIRE)– At a ceremony held by the Government of India at Rashtrapati Bhawan, the president’s official home, on February 26, 2019 (local time), Indian President Ram Nath Kovind presented the Gandhi Peace Prize to The Nippon Foundation Chairman Yohei Sasakawa. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also presented Mr. Sasakawa with a handicraft item and a check for 10 million rupees (approximately 15 million yen, or US$140,000) that accompany the prize. Mr. Sasakawa is the first Japanese national to receive the award.

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Mr. Sasakawa, Prime Minister Modi, and President Kovind (Photo: Business Wire)

Presenting the award, President Kovind recognized Mr. Sasakawa’s work, commenting, “He has been instrumental in helping us win crucial battles in the war against leprosy – to prevent and eradicate the disease, and to end stigma and discrimination,” and adding “On behalf of India, I must appreciate the services of Mr Sasakawa and his Foundation.”

In his acceptance speech, Mr. Sasakawa expressed his thanks for the prestigious award, noting, “I do not receive it alone. I receive it together with all who have worked with me over the years. This award will certainly give us renewed encouragement from Mahatma Gandhi.” He also called for continued cooperation going forward, adding “Together, we can realize a world where no one needs to suffer from leprosy nor its associated stigma and discrimination.” He also commented that he intends to donate the monetary award to leprosy elimination efforts.

About the Gandhi Peace Prize

The Gandhi Peace Prize was established in 1995 by the Government of India to commemorate the 125th anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi’s birth. Past non-Indian recipients include Nobel Peace Prize laureates Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa, and Grameen Bank of Bangladesh.

The Indian government awarded the prize to Mr. Sasakawa in recognition of his activities including his work toward the global elimination of leprosy as WHO Goodwill Ambassador for Leprosy Elimination.

Reference:
About the Gandhi Peace Prize (Ministry of Culture, Government of India website)
https://indiaculture.nic.in/gandhi-peace-prize

Reference:
Past Gandhi Peace Prize recipients (1995–2014; Ministry of Culture, Government of India website)
https://indiaculture.nic.in/sites/default/files/awards/AwardeesGPP_24.09.2018.pdf

Ministry of Culture press release announcing the Gandhi Peace Prize recipients for 2015–2018
http://pib.nic.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1560246

About Yohei Sasakawa, Chairman of The Nippon Foundation
http://leprosy.jp/english/column/

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190227005280/en/

Contacts

The Nippon Foundation
Tomoyuki Hashimoto
Communication Department
pr@ps.nippon-foundation.or.jp
81-80-9028-4381