Japan Press Weekly

Tweet

2025 March 5 - 11 [PEACE]

JCP Kira and Kasai attend talks with UN high representative for disarmament

Japanese Communist Party Dietmember Kira Yoshiko and former Dietmember Kasai Akira on March 4 attended talks held at the UN Headquarters in NYC with the Japan Council against A and H Bombs (Japan Gensuikyo), the Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations (Nihon Hidankyo), and UN High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Nakamitsu Izumi to exchange views on ways to achieve a world without nuclear weapons.

Currently, the Third Meeting of States Parties to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) is taking place at the UN Headquarters.

JCP Kira said, “Any use of nuclear weapons would have devastating consequences, both from a humanitarian and security standpoint. The JCP will do its utmost to overcome the ‘nuclear deterrence’ doctrine which presupposes the use of nuclear weapons.”

Wada Masako of Nihon Hidankyo expressed her appreciation for the United Nations working with Hibakusha to achieve the abolition of nuclear weapons. She said that Nihon Hidankyo will continue to step up its efforts to realize the total elimination of nuclear weapons.

Shimomoto Setsuko, the head of the plaintiffs’ group in a lawsuit of former crewmembers of Kochi-based fishing boats irradiated with fallout from the 1954 U.S. H-bomb test explosion at Bikini Atoll, explained the situation of the victims who have been left without any compensation. She said, “I hope relief will be provided to them.”

Tsuchida Yayoi of Japan Gensuikyo said that Japan Gensuikyo is calling on all governments to take action to encourage non-TPNW countries to join the treaty. She requested the participation of the UN representative in the 2025 World Conference against A and H Bombs which will mark the 80th anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

UN High Representative Nakamitsu said that the situation concerning nuclear weapons is “dramatic and uncertain.” However, she added, “Not everything is negative,” by pointing to Nihon Hidankyo’s winning of the Nobel Peace Prize. She stressed the importance of bringing together civil society and Global South countries and of making the best use of the TPNW as a driving force to build momentum toward establishing a world without nuclear weapons.

Past related articles:
> Gensuikyo submits statement to 3rd meeting of TPNW States Parties [February 27, 2025]
> JCP sends requests to 3rd Meeting of State Parties to TPNW [March 2, 2025]