In 2002, Japan's two-time Olympic marathon medalist Yuko Arimori was named a UNFPA Goodwill Ambassador (GWA). After her first mission, to Cambodia in 2002, she initiated the "Step Campaign" to support HIV/AIDS prevention programs for young people.

Although the campaign ended in 2004, through the interest generated by Arimori the Japanese public donated the equivalent of US$45,000 to support workshops and training for HIV/AIDS prevention.

Following the Step Campaign, Arimori has continued fundraising to support UNFPA activities that cover other areas, including reproductive health (RH), population, poverty, and gender. Through lectures, GWA-related events, and with the mass media, Arimori has encouraged the Japanese public to support UNFPA.

As a UNFPA GWA, Arimori visited Cambodia, Ethiopia, India, Kenya, Tanzania and Thailand, and saw firsthand the RH difficulties women there face. This led to a greater recognition of the importance of maternal health through safe motherhood programs.

Mother's Day

Taking the opportunity of the visit by Thoraya Obaid, UNFPA Executive Director, and UN Under-Secretary General, to Tokyo on 11th May, just before Mother's Day, Arimori handed over to Obaid US$50,000 donated by 5,000 Japanese citizens to assist with safe motherhood programs. The contributions came from individuals, couples and families covering a wide age group, with over half of them being continual supporters.

Obaid (center left) receives the donation from Arimori