Home page

On 27th May, Keio University conferred the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Law, honoris causa, upon Mr. Paul David Hewson, who is known as Bono, in recognition for his work in the fight against poverty and AIDS in Africa.

Bono will also deliver a lecture to Keio students

1. Conferring the Honorary Doctorate of Law
Bono has been involved in the fight against poverty for more than twenty years. Both as a musician with U2 and in his lobbying of international leaders, he has worked to raise awareness and promote effective political action to eliminate extreme poverty and disease, especially in Africa. Through his music and his activism Bono has helped to deliver results for the poorest people in the world. He will continue that work during his visit to Japan during Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) conference and in the lead-up to the G8 in July. Bono is co-founder of the ONE Campaign, which has more than 2.4 million members engaged in the fight against poverty.

Keio University, which was established 150 years ago in 1858 under the principal of
dokuritsu jison (independence and self-respect), has aspired to establish a true “public
realm” of civil society, independent of the bureaucracy. Keio has continuously nurtured leaders of civil society.

In recognition of Bono’s outstanding leadership as an activist who appeals to our human conscience in the fight against global poverty, Keio University confers on him the honorary degree of Doctor of Law.

2. Lecture
Since 2004, the Faculty of Law of Keio University, Shibusawa Ei’ichi Memorial Foundation and Japan Center for International Exchange have collaborated to establish a course entitled “Civil Society”. The course is funded by Shibusawa Ei’ichi Memorial Foundation and provides opportunities to discuss different roles of the state, government, governmental organizations, non-government organizations (NGOs), non-profit organizations (NPOs) and the private sector. Now in its 5th year, the course highlights the important role of civil society in encouraging debate and generating political will to address major global challenges of our time.

As a special part of the course, Bono will deliver a lecture on the fight against poverty and AIDS in Africa. He welcomes the opportunity to answer questions and exchange views with Keio University students.

3. Conferring Ceremony and Lecture
Time and Date: Tuesday, 27 May, 16:20 – 18:00
Venue: Keio University Mita Campus (2-15-45 Mita, Minato-ku, Tokyo)

Access to the site:
http://www.keio.ac.jp/english/about_keio/campus_info/accessmaps.html
(1) Conferring Ceremony
Time: 16:20 – 16:50
Venue: Public Speaking Hall “Mita Enzetsu-kan”
Language: English only
* This Conferring Ceremony is not open to the public.

(2) Lecture
Time: 17:00 – 18:00
Venue: West School Building Hall
Lecture Title: Civil Society and the fight against Poverty and AIDS in Africa
Language: English with interpretation
* This lecture is not open to the public as it is a part of the official class of Keio University.

Inquiries: Ms. Kawagoe or Ms. Mizuno, Office of Communications and Public Relations, Keio University TEL: ＋81-3-5427-1541 FAX: ＋81-3-5441-7640
E-mail: m-koho@adst.keio.ac.jp http://www.keio.ac.jp/

Associated websites:

• KEIO University
• ONE