Strengthening Civil Society Networks
Innovative Global Networks for Health Security in Africa and Beyond
On the afternoon of May 24, 2008, the FGFJ organized a seminar in Tokyo with representatives of all of the existing and soon-to-be launched Friends of the Global Fund groups from around the world. Representatives from established “Friends” groups in the United States, Europe, and Africa were joined by colleagues setting up new “Friends” groups in Latin America, the Middle East, South Asia, and the Pacific Islands. Each “Friends” representative discussed his or her region’s activities and challenges, and participants discussed possible areas of collaboration and future networking.
Roundtable on Global Health
The FGFJ convened a roundtable in Tokyo on August 6, 2007, with Tachi Yamada, president of the Bill & Melinda Gate’s Foundation’s Global Health Program, titled Addressing Challenges in Global Health: How the Public and Private Sectors Can Work Together. In addition to Masaharu Kohno, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, and other FGFJ board members, approximately 50 representatives from civil society, businesses, academia, the government, and the media attended the event.
Human Security Challenges of AIDS and Communicable Disease in Asia—Exploring Effective Regional and Global Responses
In collaboration with the Asia Society, JCIE co-sponsored a one-day international conference on March 22, 2004, in Tokyo, Japan. Over 100 policymakers, media representatives, business executives, academics, and representatives from NGOs, health organizations, and other international agencies gathered from around the world to explore and discuss strategies for enhancing regional and global collaboration in the fight against HIV/AIDS and other major diseases. In his opening remarks at the conference, former Japanese Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori announced the launch of the Friends of the Global Fund, Japan, which JCIE acts as secretariat. Tommy Thompson, Chairman of the Board of the Global Fund and U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, endorsed the launch in his keynote speech.
- Conference Report
Encouraging the Development of Japan's Civil Society
James Chau akta Community Center Visit
James Chau, speaking to key AIDS activists at akta community centerChina Central Television (CCTV) news anchor and UNAIDS goodwill ambassador James Chau met with the key AIDS activists in Tokyo on October 25, 2011, at community center akta. Akta is an information center on sexual health and HIV/AIDS located in one of the biggest gay communities in Japan. Mr. Chau spoke with the group of civil society leaders and professionals working on AIDS about akta's functions and the need for a holistic and multisectoral response to combat what is not only a physical challenge but also an issue of basic human dignity and psychosocial support.
Outreach Seminars in Hokkaido, Sendai, Kyoto, Okayama & Nagasaki
On May 25-27, 2008, prior to the Toyako G-8 Summit, the FGFJ arranged a series of public seminars and activities around Japan with 17 NGO leaders and experts from Africa, Europe, Latin America, the United States and Asia. These were held in five cities outside of Tokyo—Sapporo, Sendai, Kyoto, Okayama, and Nagasaki—giving Japanese residents outside of the capital a rare opportunity to learn directly from experts on communicable diseases from around the world and giving the overseas participants a chance to learn about other parts of Japan and expand their networks with Japanese experts and practitioners. The seminars were organized in partnership with local organizations or universities in each location and were well attended, with as many as 630 participants at one of the events in Nagasaki.
Lecture at Keio University by U2's Bono
In an attempt to nurture interest in and understanding of the role of civil society among the younger generation, JCIE launched the Shibusawa Ei’ichi Memorial Lectureship series at Keio University in 2004 with support from the Shibusawa Ei’ichi Memorial Foundation. In May 2008, the FGFJ arranged for singer and activist Bono to speak at the lecture series, where he encouraged students to get involved in tackling global challenges like poverty and disease and to push their own government to do even more in the fight against communicable diseases.