At International Conference on Humanitarian Impact of Nuclear Weapons in Vienna, A-bomb survivors argue for quick elimination of “absolute evil” nuclear weapons
Jun. 21, 2022
by Kana Kobayashi, Staff Writer
VIENNA–On June 20, 2022, the International Conference on the Humanitarian Impact of Nuclear Weapons was held in Vienna, Austria. The conference was organized by the Austrian government ahead of the First Meeting of States Parties to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) (scheduled for June 21–23). While Japanese A-bomb survivors communicated to the gathering regarding the horrors of the atomic bombings, representatives from governments around the world and experts on nuclear disarmament affirmed the inhumanity of the weapons, which greatly impact human health and the environment.
Five people attended the conference as the delegation representing Japan, including three survivors—Sueichi Kido, 82, secretary-general of the Japan Confederation of A- and H-bomb Sufferers Organizations (Nihon Hidankyo); Masashi Ieshima, 80, representative director of Nihon Hidankyo; and Masao Tomonaga, 79, head of the organizing committee for the Nagasaki Global Citizens’ Assembly for the Elimination of Nuclear Weapons. Hiroshima City Mayor Kazumi Matsui and Nagasaki City Mayor Tomihisa Taue also took part in the meeting.
Mr. Kido explained his bombing experience of 77 years ago in Nagasaki, when he was five years old. “As I drew closer to the hypocenter, I saw bodies scattered everywhere and people desperately begging for water.” He added his view that nuclear weapons should be eliminated as soon as possible. “Atomic bombs are an inhumane, absolute evil.”
Suzuka Nakamura, 22, a third-year student at Sophia University who is originally from Nagasaki and engaged in the movement to abolish nuclear weapons, took the podium in a kimono she had borrowed from an A-bomb survivor. Ms. Nakamura shared her grandmother’s experience in the atomic bombing and her own anguish as a third-generation A-bomb survivor. United Nations Under-Secretary-General and High Representative of Disarmament Affairs Izumi Nakamitsu also spoke at the gathering. Participating specialists discussed the mid- and long-term consequences of use of nuclear weapons and nuclear testing for humans and the environment, as well as the risk of accidental nuclear explosions. Although numbers of attendees have yet to be officially announced, more than 70 nations appeared to have been in attendance.
The International Conference on the Humanitarian Impact of Nuclear Weapons has been convened three times since its first meeting in Oslo, Norway, in 2013, with this conference being the fourth. The conference gave impetus to the establishment of the TPNW, led by civic groups, the UN, and non-nuclear nations that are in support of nuclear disarmament. Japan’s government has attended all four of the conferences.
Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW)
The first-ever international treaty that completely prohibits the development, possession, and use of nuclear weapons. The treaty’s preamble expresses the idea of “the unacceptable suffering and harm caused to the victims of the use of nuclear weapons (hibakusha).” Non-nuclear states took the lead in establishing the treaty through cooperation with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and other groups. The TPNW was adopted at the United Nations with 122 non-nuclear nations and regions voting in favor in July 2017. In October 2020, the number of nations and regions ratifying the treaty reached 50, the number required to effectuate the treaty.The treaty entered into force on January 22, 2021. At present, 62 nations and regions have ratified the TPNW. No nuclear nations have yet to join the treaty.
International Conference on the Humanitarian Impact of Nuclear Weapons
This international conference is designed to debate the catastrophic consequences caused by nuclear weapons. The debate about the inhumanity of nuclear weapons has grown since concerns were expressed about the fact that use of nuclear weapons would cause widespread radiation damage and make rescue of victims impossible at the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference. In 2013 and 2014, the conference took place three times in Norway and other countries, becoming the driving force for establishment of the TPNW. At the third such gathering, the United States and the United Kingdom, from among the five nuclear powers, attended the conference for the first time.
(Originally published on June 21, 2022)
VIENNA–On June 20, 2022, the International Conference on the Humanitarian Impact of Nuclear Weapons was held in Vienna, Austria. The conference was organized by the Austrian government ahead of the First Meeting of States Parties to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) (scheduled for June 21–23). While Japanese A-bomb survivors communicated to the gathering regarding the horrors of the atomic bombings, representatives from governments around the world and experts on nuclear disarmament affirmed the inhumanity of the weapons, which greatly impact human health and the environment.
Five people attended the conference as the delegation representing Japan, including three survivors—Sueichi Kido, 82, secretary-general of the Japan Confederation of A- and H-bomb Sufferers Organizations (Nihon Hidankyo); Masashi Ieshima, 80, representative director of Nihon Hidankyo; and Masao Tomonaga, 79, head of the organizing committee for the Nagasaki Global Citizens’ Assembly for the Elimination of Nuclear Weapons. Hiroshima City Mayor Kazumi Matsui and Nagasaki City Mayor Tomihisa Taue also took part in the meeting.
Mr. Kido explained his bombing experience of 77 years ago in Nagasaki, when he was five years old. “As I drew closer to the hypocenter, I saw bodies scattered everywhere and people desperately begging for water.” He added his view that nuclear weapons should be eliminated as soon as possible. “Atomic bombs are an inhumane, absolute evil.”
Suzuka Nakamura, 22, a third-year student at Sophia University who is originally from Nagasaki and engaged in the movement to abolish nuclear weapons, took the podium in a kimono she had borrowed from an A-bomb survivor. Ms. Nakamura shared her grandmother’s experience in the atomic bombing and her own anguish as a third-generation A-bomb survivor. United Nations Under-Secretary-General and High Representative of Disarmament Affairs Izumi Nakamitsu also spoke at the gathering. Participating specialists discussed the mid- and long-term consequences of use of nuclear weapons and nuclear testing for humans and the environment, as well as the risk of accidental nuclear explosions. Although numbers of attendees have yet to be officially announced, more than 70 nations appeared to have been in attendance.
The International Conference on the Humanitarian Impact of Nuclear Weapons has been convened three times since its first meeting in Oslo, Norway, in 2013, with this conference being the fourth. The conference gave impetus to the establishment of the TPNW, led by civic groups, the UN, and non-nuclear nations that are in support of nuclear disarmament. Japan’s government has attended all four of the conferences.
Keywords
Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW)
The first-ever international treaty that completely prohibits the development, possession, and use of nuclear weapons. The treaty’s preamble expresses the idea of “the unacceptable suffering and harm caused to the victims of the use of nuclear weapons (hibakusha).” Non-nuclear states took the lead in establishing the treaty through cooperation with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and other groups. The TPNW was adopted at the United Nations with 122 non-nuclear nations and regions voting in favor in July 2017. In October 2020, the number of nations and regions ratifying the treaty reached 50, the number required to effectuate the treaty.The treaty entered into force on January 22, 2021. At present, 62 nations and regions have ratified the TPNW. No nuclear nations have yet to join the treaty.
International Conference on the Humanitarian Impact of Nuclear Weapons
This international conference is designed to debate the catastrophic consequences caused by nuclear weapons. The debate about the inhumanity of nuclear weapons has grown since concerns were expressed about the fact that use of nuclear weapons would cause widespread radiation damage and make rescue of victims impossible at the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference. In 2013 and 2014, the conference took place three times in Norway and other countries, becoming the driving force for establishment of the TPNW. At the third such gathering, the United States and the United Kingdom, from among the five nuclear powers, attended the conference for the first time.
(Originally published on June 21, 2022)
