A Mayors for Peace delegation attended the first session of the Preparatory Committee (PrepCom) for the 11th Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), which met in Vienna, Austria. Headed by President MATSUI Kazumi (Mayor of Hiroshima), Vice President SUZUKI Shiro (Mayor of Nagasaki), and Secretary General KAGAWA Takehiro, the delegation conveyed the hibakusha’s sincere desire for the abolition of nuclear weapons and emphasized the need for advancing nuclear disarmament to representatives of national governments and the UN.
Furthermore, to develop youth leadership for future peace activities, Mayors for Peace sent high school students engaging in peace activities in Hiroshima to the PrepCom and organized events and meetings including the Mayors for Peace Youth Forum.
At the United Nations Office at Vienna, the venue of the first session of the NPT PrepCom, Mayors for Peace also hosted the Mayors for Peace Atomic Bomb Exhibition, aiming at having the PrepCom attendees deepen their understanding of the realities of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the initiatives of Mayors for Peace.
the venue of the PrepCom
Travel Period for President Matsui, Vice President Suzuki, and Secretary General Kagawa: July 29 (Sat.) – August 4 (Fri), 2023
Speeches at the NGO presentations session of the First PrepCom (August 2)
President Matsui mentioned that the G7 Hiroshima Summit provided an opportunity for the G7 leaders, including those from nuclear-weapon States, to deeply understand the “will of Hiroshima.” He emphasized that the flawed theory of nuclear deterrence, which is now in a state of collapse, must be abandoned, and that we must now start taking tangible action for the total elimination of nuclear weapons. He concluded his speech by expressing the hope to witness a significant and unwavering step forward in advancing concrete nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation measures during the session.
Vice President Suzuki elaborated further on the importance of comprehending the realities of the atomic bombings, emphasizing that it is the starting point on the path toward a world without nuclear weapons and serves as a driving force in bringing about change in the world. He continued, stating, “Nuclear weapons are not only a threat confined to Hiroshima and Nagasaki’s pasts; they are a present and future issue with which everyone living on Earth must contend,” and closed his statement by sharing the message, “Make Nagasaki the last wartime atomic bombing site.”
Mayors for Peace statements at the first session of the Preparatory Committee for the 11th NPT Review Conference
by President (Mayor of Hiroshima) by Vice President (Mayor of Nagasaki)
Meetings with Representatives of the G7 states
The Mayors for Peace delegation met with representatives of four of the G7 states: France, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Japan. In the meetings, the delegation referred to the G7 Hiroshima Summit, mentioning that the Summit provided the G7 leaders with the opportunity to directly encounter the realities of the atomic bombing. The delegation also discussed the leaders’ messages written on the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum guestbook, stating that these entries demonstrate their deep understanding of the “will of Hiroshima,” the conviction that nuclear weapons must never be used again. The delegation further called on the representatives to take concrete actions toward a world without nuclear weapons based on the Hiroshima Vision on Nuclear Disarmament, which the G7 leaders issued at the Summit. The delegation presented their willingness to support policymakers to take tangible actions toward the total elimination of nuclear weapons and requested support for the expansion of Mayors for Peace membership.
Moreover, the delegation requested Ambassador Ogasawara, Permanent Representative of Japan to the Conference on Disarmament, that Japan sign and ratify the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) and, as its first step, participate in the second Meeting of States Parties to the TPNW as an observer.
Meetings with Representatives of the UN
Meeting and delivering petition to UN Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs (July 31)
After President Matsui introduced the high school students and the activities they engage in, a student representative handed over the certificate of approximately 44,000 signatures calling for all states to join the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons at the earliest date to UN Under-Secretary-General Nakamitsu, stating: “each and every one of these signatures represents the people’s earnest hope to abolish nuclear weapons.”
Ms. Nakamitsu responded with words of encouragement, expressing that she gained courage from the tangible actions taken by the young people of the atomic-bombed city of Hiroshima, standing on the streets to collect signatures after considering how they can commit to the elimination of nuclear weapons. She encouraged them that nothing stands in their way to make persistent efforts, and keep raising their voices to be heard.
Meeting with Chair of the first session of the NPT PrepCom (August 1)
President Matsui referred to the G7 leaders’ encounter with the realities of the atomic bombing on the occasion of the G7 Hiroshima Summit, and expressed hope that the first session of the PrepCom serves as a starting point for new processes for nuclear disarmament amid the current challenging international circumstances.
Chair Viinanen referred to the significance the peace messages from the atomic-bombed cities have for all the national representatives attending the session. Furthermore, he expressed his view that the culmination of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation leads to a world without nuclear weapons and emphasized the need to transform the current situation facing the stagnation of nuclear disarmament.
In addition to the aforementioned representatives of national governments and the UN, the Mayors for Peace delegation met and exchanged views with PrepCom delegations from Brazil, the Republic of Korea, Austria, and Kiribati.
Events
Mayors for Peace Youth Forum (August 1)
Mayors for Peace Youth Forum, held as a side event for the PrepCom, featured presentations by eight groups of young people from around the globe, including high school students from Hiroshima and Vienna. Amid a crowded audience where many stood, the youth groups presented on and discussed their hopes and thoughts on peace gained through their peace activities, and called for the realization of a peaceful, nuclear-weapons-free world. In response, an audience member expressed their appreciation, noting how deeply the person was impressed and encouraged by the commitment of young Japanese individuals to nuclear disarmament. Words of determination were also voiced from the floor, underscoring the importance of working in solidarity among the gathered youth, building networks, and collectively striving toward their common goal.
To conclude the Forum, UN Under-Secretary-General Nakamitsu offered words of encouragement to the participants. She expressed her hope that these young people, the leaders and driving force of the future, would deeply learn about international relations and disarmament, so that they will become influential communicators, capable of motivating government officials and diplomats for positive changes.
Executive Cities’ Meeting for Exchange of Views (July 31)
Delegation members from 5 Executive Cities, including Hiroshima, Nagasaki, Ieper (Belgium), Evora (Portugal), and Granollers (Spain), gathered for a meeting, presented their own city’s activities, and actively exchanged their views.
Mayors for Peace Atomic Bomb Exhibition (July 31 – August 11)
At the venue of the first session of the NPT PrepCom over the session’s period, Mayors for Peace hosted the Mayors for Peace Atomic Bomb Exhibition, aiming at having the PrepCom attendees and UN-related individuals deepen their understanding of the realities of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the inhumane nature of nuclear weapons, and the initiatives of Mayors for Peace. On July 31, President Matsui and Vice President Suzuki received a visit at the Exhibition from the State Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan Mr. Takei, and offered an explanation of the exhibits.
