ICJ 10th Anniversary Commemorative Events

On the occasion of 10th anniversary of the ICJ advisory opinion stating “… the threat or use of nuclear weapons would generally be contrary to the rules of international law”, we participated in commemorative meetings held by European peace NGOs in The Hague (The Netherlands) and Brussels (Belgium) in July 2006. Our delegation consisted of mayors and representatives from 15 cities in 11 countries.

10th Anniversary Meeting for the Advisory Opinion at the International Court of Justice

On July 5, 2006, to mark the 10th anniversary of the advisory opinion issued by the International Court of Justice in July 1996, a commemorative meeting sponsored by Mayors for Peace was held in the Japan Room of the Peace Palace in which the ICJ chambers are located. Dr. Kate Dewes, a founder of the World Court Project, and Judge Christopher Weeramantry, former vice president of ICJ, were invited as guest speakers. The meeting of about 40 participants was attended by the Mayors for Peace Mayoral Delegation, IALANA (International Association of Lawyers Against Nuclear Arms), IPPNW (International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War), and many other NGO representatives. Dr. Dewes presented a keynote address on the theme, History of the UN General Assembly Request for an Advisory Opinion. She described the historical process that led to the advisory opinion, including the discussions that were taking place at the time in the General Assembly. Judge Weeramantry, in a speech entitled, The Legal Obligations and Constraints Identified by the Court, spoke about the importance and limits of the advisory opinion as a factor in international law. He pointed to the need for citizen action to demand that the nuclear-weapon states take action toward nuclear disarmament. Next, Mayor Akiba, as representative of Mayors for Peace, announced Phase II of the 2020 Vision Campaign, introducing the Good Faith Challenge. Each member of the Mayoral Delegation then offered comments, followed by a lively discussion involving the NGO representatives and all present.

Good Faith Challenge
* This campaign takes the term "good faith" from Article VI of the NPT and from the ICJ advisory opinion of July 1996.
　

[City members of the Mayoral Delegation]

Laakdal (Belgium) , Gesves(Belgium), Malakoff (France), Radeberg (Germany), Manchester (England), Brighton and Hove (England), Coventry (England), London (England), Pineto (Italy), Oostzaan (Netherlands), North Olmsted (US), Dhaka (Bangladesh), Sulaymaniya (Iraq), Wakiso (Uganda), Hiroshima (Japan)
A total of 15 cities in 11 countries