REPUBLIC OF ANGOLA
EMBASSY OF THE REPUBLIC OF ANGOLA IN JAPAN
INSTITUTIONAL COMMUNICATION AND PRESS SERVICES
PRESS RELEASE
Tokyo, July 9, 2026 – Angola’s Ambassador to Japan, Teo-dolinda Rosa Rodrigues Coelho, received a delegation from the “Barrier-Free Japan” Project, an initiative that brings together children with Down syndrome and promotes the inclusion of people with disabilities.
In her welcoming remarks, the Ambassador expressed solidarity with the children, who, in turn, shared their life experiences and the dreams they hope to achieve.
The initiative aimed to provide children with disabilities an opportunity to interact with the Ambassador and staff of the Diplomatic Mission in a relaxed setting, reinforcing the message that society has not forgotten them. The meeting also sought to raise public awareness of the importance of inclusion and respect for the rights of people with disabilities.
The President of the Barrier Free Japan Project, Bengt Yamada, presented data on the number of people with disabilities in Japan and highlighted the progress made in their integration into society.
The Barrier Free Japan works to reduce ignorance, prejudice, and discrimination, contributing to the creation of a more inclusive society where everyone can live with comfort, dignity, and equal opportunities.
To date, the Barrier Free Japan Project has visited 62 embassies in Tokyo. The initiative has also held meetings with former Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga and Ireland’s Minister for Education and Youth, Hildegarde Naughton. Among its achievements, the initiative played a key role in influencing the Japanese government’s decision to abolish the income restriction applied to families with children with disabilities.
The delegation was led by Bengt Yamada, President of the Barrier Free Japan Project, an initiative that supports children with disabilities in collaboration with governments, embassies accredited in Tokyo, Kanagawa Prefecture, the City of Yokohama, and various companies.
INSTITUTIONAL COMMUNICATIONS AND PRESS OFFICE OF THE EMBASSY OF THE REPUBLIC OF ANGOLA IN JAPAN, in Tokyo, July 9, 2026. –
