Gandhi Peace Prize 2018 awarded to Mr. Yohei Sasakawa, Chairman of The Nippon Foundation
2019/2/26
On February 26, the Hon. President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind, conferred the Gandhi Peace Prize for the year 2018 upon Mr. Yohei Sasakawa, Chairman of The Nippon Foundation. High ranking dignitaries, including Vice President, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu, Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, Speaker of the Lok Sabha, Smt. Sumitra Mahajan, Chief Justice of India, Shri Ranjan Gogoi and Ambassador of Japan, Mr. Kenji Hiramatsu, attended the award ceremony to honor Mr. Sasakawa for his great achievement.
Mr. Sasakawa has been working for the elimination of leprosy for more than 40 years in India, which is the world's most leprosy-afflicted country. He frequently visits the colonies of leprosy patients and recovered people who have been suffering from severe discrimination, and extends them his support to improve their lives and retain their dignity.
In his acceptance speech on the occasion, Mr. Sasakawa strongly appealed for the mobilization of the power of governments, NGOs, international organizations, as well as persons affected by leprosy, towards the elimination of discrimination against people afflicted by leprosy. (Text of Mr. Sasakawa’s speech at the award ceremony)
Mr. Sasakawa has been working for the elimination of leprosy for more than 40 years in India, which is the world's most leprosy-afflicted country. He frequently visits the colonies of leprosy patients and recovered people who have been suffering from severe discrimination, and extends them his support to improve their lives and retain their dignity.
In his acceptance speech on the occasion, Mr. Sasakawa strongly appealed for the mobilization of the power of governments, NGOs, international organizations, as well as persons affected by leprosy, towards the elimination of discrimination against people afflicted by leprosy. (Text of Mr. Sasakawa’s speech at the award ceremony)