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2017 August 2 - 8 TOP3 [PEACE]

Antinuke world conference in Nagasaki calls for proceeding to next stage after the adoption of UN treaty

An opening plenary of the 2017 World Conference against A and H Bombs was held on August 7 in Nagasaki City with 6,000 people, including Hibakusha, UN and government representatives, and overseas delegates, taking part.

Speaking on behalf of the Organizing Committee for the World Conference, Anzai Ikuro said, “The antinuke UN treaty is a ‘powerful’ binding instrument to prohibit nuclear weapons. In order to make the treaty truly effective, we have to push nuclear weapons states and their allies to change their policies and join the treaty.”

Representing Hibakusha, Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bombs Sufferers Organizations (Nippon Hidankyo) Secretary General Kido Sueichi delivered a speech. Noting that Prime Minister Abe Shinzo on August 6 in Hiroshima said that Japan will not sign and ratify the treaty, Kido said, “With various actions, including the Hibakusha-led signature-collection drive, let’s replace the nation’s leader with one truly working to protect people’s life and livelihoods.”

Nagasaki Mayor Taue Tomihisa and UN High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Nakamitsu Izumi spoke as guests. A message from Okinawa Governor Onaga Takeshi was read out.

Nakamitsu pointed out that the UN treaty banning nuclear weapons is a wake-up call to nations relying on nuclear weapons. She said that following the adoption of the treaty, nuclear weapons states and their allies should seriously consider what concrete steps they can take toward nuclear disarmament.

The UN representative said that Hibakusha’s long-standing efforts have borne fruit in the form of the nuclear weapons ban treaty. She said that the UN will continue cooperating with all countries and civil society, and work even harder to advance the process toward a goal of achieving a world without nuclear weapons.

Japanese and foreign grass-roots activists also appeared on the stage. French delegates introduced their plan to launch nationwide protests against nuclear weapons in October.

Past related article:
> World Conference will focus on next step toward nuclear weapons-free world after adoption of N-ban treaty [July 14, 2017]