Japan Press Weekly

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2016 November 16 - 22 [SOCIAL ISSUES]

Hibakusha call for formation of parliamentary league to improve Hibakusha recognition system

Atomic bomb survivors (Hibakusha) on November 18 visited the Japanese Communist Party in its anteroom at the Dietmembers’ No.1 Office Building of the Lower House, demanding that a suprapartisan-parliamentarians’ league be formed to review and improve the existing law regarding the system of granting official recognition of Hibakusha health issues induced by radiation exposure.

The petition, organized by the Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations (Nihon Hidankyo), accompanied by Hibskusha and concerned lawyers, was part of their lobbying efforts to appeal to all political parties.

Receiving their visit, JCP Chair Shii Kazuo pointed to the significance of the ongoing Hibakusha-led international signature campaign and engaged in discussions with them. Shii said, “The JCP full backs your petition and we will work together with you to realize the establishment of a lawmakers’ union to work to revise the law.”

He also touched upon the recent adoption of the UN resolution on a Nuclear Weapons Convention and said, “Your tireless efforts to make the humanitarian impact of nuclear weapons known to people worldwide has moved the international community to take action. Hibakusha testimony activities have also played a decisive role in strengthening global antinuke movements.”

Nihon Hidankyo Deputy Secretary General Wada Masako said, “I felt strong resentment toward the government of Japan voting against the resolution. In cooperation with civil societies, we will further promote our signature campaign to push the world to move to get rid of nuclear weapons.”

Several Hibalisha said to Shii, “Hibakusha are getting old. Please, strengthen your efforts so that the conclusion of a nuclear-weapon-ban treaty can come about before we die.”

Past related articles:
> Hibakusha protest against Japanese government’s objection to UN resolution on NWC talks [October 29, 2016]
> Japan votes against UN nuclear weapons-free resolution [October 29, 2016]
> Over 560,000 Hibakusha Appeal signatures submitted to UN [October 8, 2016]