May 2009

Niwano Peace Foundation Holds 2009 Symposium in Kyoto Fumon Hall

The Niwano Peace Foundation Symposium 2009 was held May 9 in Rissho Kosei-kai's Kyoto Fumon Hall, adjacent to the Kyoto Dharma Center. Some 250 people took part, including religionists, scholars of religion, and members of the public.

In 2001 the foundation adopted the symposium's main theme, "Challenges Facing Religious People in the New Century." Addressing the special subtheme of 2009, "Accelerating the Defeat of HIV/AIDS-related Stigma, Shame, Denial, Discrimination, Inaction, and Misaction (SSDDIM): A Pre-requisite for Successful Peace-building Initiative in Africa," the keynote speech, by the recipient of this year's 26th Niwano Peace Prize, the Rev. Canon Gideon Byamugisha of Uganda, was read out for him by Mr. Shin'ichi Noguchi, the foundation's executive director, since Canon Byamugisha was unable to attend.

In his address, Canon Byamugisha emphasized the importance of realizing that the HIV/AIDS pandemic is one of today's leading humanitarian crises. He also pointed out the lack of essential education in HIV-related issues, such as fundamental knowledge and information on the symptoms, as well as a healthful environment for daily life. He called for efforts to eradicate discrimination against HIV/AIDS patients, and appealed for an international cooperative framework to teach communities how to cope with HIV/AIDS.
 In the succeeding panel discussion, chaired by Rev. Keizo Yamada, a Jesuit priest and professor emeritus at Sophia University, Dr. Tatsuo Hayashi, president of the Africa Japan Forum, and Mr. Makoto Nishi, a member of the board of trustees of the Association for Field Research Information and Collaboration in Africa (AFRIC Africa), represented Japan's nonprofit organizations. The panelists described the current situation in central and southern Africa, where many people have HIV/AIDS. They also discussed the roles of religious people and ordinary citizens in solving HIV-related problems in Africa and elsewhere.

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