Japan Press Weekly

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2018 March 28 - April 3 [PEACE]

Catholic bishops in Japan urge gov’t to sign UN nuclear weapons ban treaty

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference in Japan Episcopal Commission for Social Issues recently sent to the Abe government a petition stating that Japan should sign and ratify the UN treaty prohibiting nuclear weapons.

The written request quotes the Pope as saying at an international conference held at the Vatican in November 2017 that given the risk of an accidental use or detonation of nuclear weapons, not only the use and threat but also the very possession of such weapons deserve condemnation. It goes on to point out that the Vatican was the first signatory to the antinuke UN treaty.

The document criticizes the Japanese government for taking a reluctant stance toward signing onto the legal ban of nuclear weapons as well as its reluctance to endorse peaceful diplomacy centering on dialogue.

The petition urges the government to sign and ratify the UN treaty as well as persuade nuclear weapons states to do the same. In addition, it stresses that in line with the pacifist principle of the Constitution, Japan should exert diplomatic efforts that will not increase military tension but contribute to the establishment of peace through peaceful diplomatic negotiations among countries.

Past related articles:
> Hibakusha calls on Pope to help with signature-collection drive for abolition of nuclear weapons [November 11-14, 2017]
> JCP Chair Shii issues statement to welcome the nuclear weapons ban treaty [July 9, 2017]