【Photo Diary】 (1) Visit to Italy, the Vatican and Malta

Published on February 20, 2023

During the trip, I first attended the two-day International Symposium at the Vatican on Hansen’s Disease titled “Leave No One Behind” that also featured the launch ceremony for Global Appeal 2023 to End Stigma and Discrimination against Persons Affected by Leprosy.

I then had an audience with His Holiness Pope Francis at the Apostolic Palace in Vatican City during which I requested the Pope's support in eliminating leprosy and the stigma and discrimination associated with the disease.

Later in the week, I had an overnight stay in the Mediterranean republic of Malta to meet with its government leaders and visit the International Maritime Law Institute (IMLI).

[January 23, Rome and the Vatican]

Speaking at an opening session of the International Symposium at the Vatican on Hansen’s Disease “Leave No One Behind,” held at Auditorium “P. Agostino Trape”, Patristic Institute Augustinianum.
It was co-hosted by the Sasakawa Leprosy (Hansen's Disease) Initiative (SLI),　French Raoul Follereau Fondation, and Italian Association Amici di Raoul Follereau in collaboration with the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development of the Holy See.
SLI is a strategic alliance between the WHO Goodwill Ambassador for Leprosy Elimination, The Nippon Foundation and the Sasakawa Health Foundation for achieving a world without leprosy and stigma and discrimination associated with the disease.
The symposium was focused on achieving the goal of “zero leprosy” in the world and establishing societies where no one is left behind due to Hansen’s disease or other NTDs. It brought together some 130 health and human rights experts, representatives of NGOs and religious organizations, and persons affected by Hansen’s disease, as well as others who participated online.

The launch of Global Appeal 2023 to End Stigma and Discrimination against Persons Affected by Leprosy. The 18th annual appeal was endorsed by the cosponsors and participants of the symposium and was read out by Miss World Brazil 2022, Leticia Frota (center), who has been a great promoter in the fight against Hansen’s disease in her country.

Miss World Brazil 2022 Leticia Frota (center) with the author on the far left.

With President Maya Ranavare (right) and Secretary Sarang Gayadhane (left) of the Association of People Affected by Leprosy (APAL) of India.

With members of Brazil’s Movement for the Reintegration of People Affected by Hansen’s Disease (MORHAN), joined by Miss World Brazil Letícia Cezar da Frota (right).

(To be continued)

For Global Appeal 2023 to End Stigma and Discrimination against Persons Affected by Leprosy, and other documents and videos, please visit the dedicated website.

The text of my speech at the opening session of the International Symposium at the Vatican on Hansen’s Disease “Leave No One Behind” can be seen here.

The text of my speech at the launch ceremony for Global Appeal 2023 to End Stigma and Discrimination against Persons Affected by Leprosy can be seen here.

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【Photo Diary】 (2) Visit to Italy, the Vatican and Malta

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I would like to share with you some of the photographs taken during my visit to Italy, the Vatican and Malta between January 22 and 28, 2023, as chairman of The Nippon Foundation and WHO Goodwill Ambassador for Leprosy Elimination.[January 24, Rome and the Vatican]Participants on the second day of the International Symposium at the Vatican on Hansen’s Disease titled “Leave No One Behind.” With WHO