Statement by H.E. Ambassador ISHIKANE Kimihiro, Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations at the Launch event “International Day for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Awareness”

Thank you, Ambassador Kasymalieva, for inviting me to this wonderful event.

I would like to start by welcoming the successful adoption of the GA resolution to establish a new “International Day for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Awareness”, which is a milestone in promoting better awareness and understanding of disarmament and non-proliferation issues among the public, especially young people.
 
As our time is limited, today I would like to focus on the nuclear aspect of disarmament and non-proliferation in my intervention.
 
Distinguished colleagues,
 
We are now at a crucial juncture in history. The global nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation regime faces serious challenges due to greater divisions in the international community and Russia’s threat to use nuclear weapons and its recent announcement to suspend its participation in the New START Treaty, as well as North Korea’s continued nuclear program, among others.
 
These alarming trends demonstrate that it is more important than ever for the international community to redouble its efforts to revive momentum for nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation. Raising awareness and promoting a better understanding of the realities of nuclear weapons use is critical in achieving this goal.
 
We firmly believe that Japan, as the only country to have suffered atomic bombings during war, bears a unique responsibility to convey the tragedies of the use of atomic weapons in Hiroshima and Nagasaki across generations and borders.
 
As part of our initiative, last December Japan hosted the first meeting of the “International Group of Eminent Persons for a World without Nuclear Weapons”. At this meeting, world leaders and experts had an insightful discussion on priorities and challenges in promoting nuclear disarmament and exchanged ideas on how to raise awareness and convey the realities of the use of nuclear weapons.
 
Furthermore, the "Hiroshima Action Plan," announced by our Prime Minister KISHIDA during the last NPT Review Conference, lays out realistic and practical first steps toward a world without nuclear weapons. One of the pillars of this Action Plan is to promote an accurate understanding of the realities of nuclear weapons use by encouraging people from all over the world, including political leaders, to visit Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
 
 
 
For this purpose, Prime Minister KISHIDA also announced a contribution of 10 million dollars to the UN for the launch of the "Youth Leader Fund toward a world without nuclear weapons," which Japan with UNODA will initiate very soon. Through this program, we will invite young leaders to Hiroshima and Nagasaki and provide them with opportunities to learn of and understand the realities of nuclear weapons use.
 
Distinguished colleagues,
 
We cannot change one tragic fact of history: “Hiroshima is the first place to have suffered an atomic bombing.” However, it depends on us whether Nagasaki will remain the last place. Preserving the legacy of non-use of nuclear weapons is our shared responsibility that we have upheld for 77 years since the horrific days in Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
 
Together with all of you, Japan will walk decisively forward on the path towards a world without nuclear weapons, no matter how difficult that path may be.

Thank you.