Secretary General attended the February Session of the UN Open-ended Working Group on Taking Forward Multilateral Nuclear Disarmament Negotiations

February 2016

Mr. Yasuyoshi Komizo, Secretary General of Mayors for Peace, attended the first session of the UN Open-ended Working Group (OEWG) on how to take forward multilateral nuclear disarmament negotiations. This first session was convened at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland.

Secretary General Komizo from February 20 (Sat) to 26 (Fri), 2016

February 21 (Sunday)
Informal discussion hosted by UNFOLD ZERO

Prior to the OEWG, Mr. Komizo participated in the informal discussion hosted by both UNFOLD ZERO, a platform for United Nations-focused initiatives and actions for the achievement of a nuclear weapons free world, and Parliamentarians for Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament (PNND). Mr. Komizo exchanged views with other civil society representatives and confirmed their further cooperation toward the elimination of nuclear weapons.

February 22 (Monday)
Presentation of the Mayors for Peace open letter to the OEWG Chair

Before the opening of the OEWG, Mr. Komizo met Mr. Thani Thongphakdi, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Thailand to the United Nations Office and other International Organizations in Geneva who served as the Chair of the Open-ended Working Group. Mr. Komizo presented Mr. Thani with an open letter from Mayors for Peace that urges all nations to participate actively in the Working Group and to start engaging in constructive deliberations.

Attendance of the first day of the OEWG

Mr. Komizo attended the first day of the OEWG. At the opening session in the morning, he made a speech on behalf of Mayors for Peace.

February 23 (Tuesday)
Visit of the permanent exhibition about the atomic bombings and disarmament

Mr. Komizo visited the permanent exhibition about the atomic bombings and disarmament in the United Nations Office in Geneva. The exhibition was installed by Hiroshima City, Nagasaki City, and the United Nations in November 2011.

Attendance of the second day of the OEWG

Mr. Komizo sat in on the session for an exchange of opinions between governments and NGOs on Panel I on the first day.

February 24 (Wednesday)
Attendance of the third day of the OEWG

Mr. Komizo visited the afternoon session of the Working Group, which was the continued exchange of opinions between governments and NGOs on Panel I on the first day. Mr. Komizo again made a speech on behalf of Mayors for Peace.

February 25 (Thursday)
Presentation of a joint statement to the OEWG Chair

Representatives of Religions for Peace, Mayors for Peace and Parliamentarians for Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament (PNND) presented a joint statement to the OEWG Chair, Ambassador Thani Thongphakdi. This joint statement was adopted by the three organizations on August 6 of last year. Ambassador Thani mentioned that he is glad that his home city, Bangkok, is a member of Mayors for Peace.

Attendance of the fourth day of the OEWG

Mr. Komizo sat in on the second panel on transparency measures related to the risks associated with existing nuclear weapons. He also distributed to the participants of the session scripts of the two speeches he made on behalf of Mayors for Peace and materials about Mayors for Peace activities.