Japan Association of Lawyers Against Nuclear Arms discusses ways to outlaw nuclear weapons
Nov. 21, 2014
by Jumpei Fujimura, Staff Writer
On November 8, the Japan Association of Lawyers Against Nuclear Arms held a meeting in Tokyo to discuss and devise a path to make nuclear weapons illegal in the international community. They explored measures to realize a world without nuclear weapons by using such legal frameworks as humanitarian laws and a nuclear weapons convention.
About 20 people, including lawyers, researchers, and A-bomb survivors, took part in the meeting. Toshinori Yamada, a lecturer in international law at Meiji University, stressed that people must attach more importance to current international humanitarian laws. Mr. Yamada said, “Thorough interpretation and adoption of current rules can become a starting point for prohibiting and outlawing nuclear arms, rather than crafting new rules.”
Toshiki Fujimori, assistant secretary general of the Japan Confederation of A- and H-bomb Sufferers Organizations, said, “Through A-bomb accounts, we can make it clear that nuclear weapons are an absolute evil.” He also said that placing more emphasis on the inhumane nature of nuclear weapons can reinforce the international trend toward a ban.
At the same time, Yayoi Tsuchiya, assistant secretary general of the Japan Council against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs (Gensuikyo), argued that it won’t be possible to abolish nuclear arms if pressing their inhumane nature is the only action taken. Ms. Tsuchida stressed the importance of also pursuing petition drives which call for the start of negotiations for a nuclear weapons convention that would apply to every nation.
After the meeting, Takeya Sasaki, president of the association and a resident of Higashihiroshima, Hiroshima, said, “Continuing these discussions can widen the base of support for concrete activities that will advance the abolition of nuclear weapons. We want to make next spring’s Review Conference of the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty a highlight of the discussions.”
The meeting was held in conjunction with the general assembly of the Japan Association of Lawyers Against Nuclear Arms.
(Originally published on November 9, 2014)
On November 8, the Japan Association of Lawyers Against Nuclear Arms held a meeting in Tokyo to discuss and devise a path to make nuclear weapons illegal in the international community. They explored measures to realize a world without nuclear weapons by using such legal frameworks as humanitarian laws and a nuclear weapons convention.
About 20 people, including lawyers, researchers, and A-bomb survivors, took part in the meeting. Toshinori Yamada, a lecturer in international law at Meiji University, stressed that people must attach more importance to current international humanitarian laws. Mr. Yamada said, “Thorough interpretation and adoption of current rules can become a starting point for prohibiting and outlawing nuclear arms, rather than crafting new rules.”
Toshiki Fujimori, assistant secretary general of the Japan Confederation of A- and H-bomb Sufferers Organizations, said, “Through A-bomb accounts, we can make it clear that nuclear weapons are an absolute evil.” He also said that placing more emphasis on the inhumane nature of nuclear weapons can reinforce the international trend toward a ban.
At the same time, Yayoi Tsuchiya, assistant secretary general of the Japan Council against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs (Gensuikyo), argued that it won’t be possible to abolish nuclear arms if pressing their inhumane nature is the only action taken. Ms. Tsuchida stressed the importance of also pursuing petition drives which call for the start of negotiations for a nuclear weapons convention that would apply to every nation.
After the meeting, Takeya Sasaki, president of the association and a resident of Higashihiroshima, Hiroshima, said, “Continuing these discussions can widen the base of support for concrete activities that will advance the abolition of nuclear weapons. We want to make next spring’s Review Conference of the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty a highlight of the discussions.”
The meeting was held in conjunction with the general assembly of the Japan Association of Lawyers Against Nuclear Arms.
(Originally published on November 9, 2014)
