Japanese documentary wins 2011 Child Rights Award

Thursday 03 Nov 2011
A documentary about the lives of two disabled children in Japan has won the 2011 Asia-Pacific Child Rights Award for broadcasting.

Iori and Ibuki – Why We Were Born by Shizuoka Telecasting of Japan was named the winner of the award on 2 November in Hong Kong during the CASBAA Convention.

The Asia-Pacific Child Rights Award, created by CASBAA, ABU and UNICEF in 2001, is given annually to the best television programme produced in the Asia-Pacific region with a focus on children’s rights.

Mariko Hashimoto, the producer of Iori and Ibuki – Why We Were Born, spent 11 years of filming and interviewing Iori and her family. Iori and her younger brother were each born with disabilities. Their story is a compelling tale of resilience and optimism.

“In Japan, children with disabilities tend to be bullied. Many have to live in isolation. They face a lack of nursing, schooling and service facilities. I believe that today’s society, in which disabled people are obliged to live ‘secretly’, must be changed. I long for a society free from discrimination against the disabled,” said Ms Hashimoto.

“By giving children with special needs the skills needed to grow, we can encourage and inspire success,” said Javad Mottaghi, Secretary-General of the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU).

Nearly 50 entries from the Asia-Pacific region were received for this year’s competition.