Mayors for Peace sends letters to UN member states to urge nuclear powers to participate in Meeting of States Parties
Oct. 26, 2020
by Tsuyoshi Kubota, Staff Writer
On October 25, after it was confirmed that the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons will enter into force, the Mayors for Peace organization (for which Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui serves as president) sent 193 UN member states open letters expressing its determination to call on the nuclear weapon states and their allied countries to participate in the Meeting of States Parties to the Treaty, which is scheduled to discuss future concrete treaty procedures.
Regarding effectuation of the treaty, the organization emphasized that the A-bomb survivors’ earnest desire evident in the expression “No one else should ever suffer as we have” moved the international community. Looking back on its activities, including repeated urging of nuclear weapon states and others to ratify the treaty, the organization declared, “We will strongly demand that all countries participate in discussions about effective operation and development of the treaty as well as in the Meeting of States Parties.”
Mayors for Peace pointed out the need to spread recognition throughout the world of the nuclear ban treaty as a firm international norm for the elimination of nuclear weapons, which are an “absolute evil.” The organization indicated it will make efforts to raise awareness about peace in the minds of all citizens with the aim of pushing politicians to change policies. Letters were also sent to about 8,000 member cities of the Mayors for Peace organization.
On the same day, the Hiroshima prefectural chapters of the Japan Council against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs (Gensuikyo) also issued a statement and sent it to Japan’s Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga and Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi. The statement called for participation in the treaty by the Japanese government, indicating, “Effectuation of the treaty is a major step toward security that places highest priority on human dignity. The fact that the Japanese government is turning its back on the treaty is causing great disappointment among people who long for peace in the world.”
(Originally published on October 26, 2020)
On October 25, after it was confirmed that the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons will enter into force, the Mayors for Peace organization (for which Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui serves as president) sent 193 UN member states open letters expressing its determination to call on the nuclear weapon states and their allied countries to participate in the Meeting of States Parties to the Treaty, which is scheduled to discuss future concrete treaty procedures.
Regarding effectuation of the treaty, the organization emphasized that the A-bomb survivors’ earnest desire evident in the expression “No one else should ever suffer as we have” moved the international community. Looking back on its activities, including repeated urging of nuclear weapon states and others to ratify the treaty, the organization declared, “We will strongly demand that all countries participate in discussions about effective operation and development of the treaty as well as in the Meeting of States Parties.”
Mayors for Peace pointed out the need to spread recognition throughout the world of the nuclear ban treaty as a firm international norm for the elimination of nuclear weapons, which are an “absolute evil.” The organization indicated it will make efforts to raise awareness about peace in the minds of all citizens with the aim of pushing politicians to change policies. Letters were also sent to about 8,000 member cities of the Mayors for Peace organization.
On the same day, the Hiroshima prefectural chapters of the Japan Council against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs (Gensuikyo) also issued a statement and sent it to Japan’s Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga and Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi. The statement called for participation in the treaty by the Japanese government, indicating, “Effectuation of the treaty is a major step toward security that places highest priority on human dignity. The fact that the Japanese government is turning its back on the treaty is causing great disappointment among people who long for peace in the world.”
(Originally published on October 26, 2020)
