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Mayors for Peace send delegation to coincide with third preparatory committee for the 2020 NPT Review Conference
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In April and May, 2019, Mayors for Peace (President: Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui) sent a delegation to New York at the time of the third preparatory committee for the 2020 NPT Review Conference, held in New York.
The delegation communicated to United Nations and government representatives the sincere wish of the hibakusha for the abolition of nuclear weapons, and appealed for the importance of pushing for the execution of the duty to negotiate in good faith for nuclear disarmament and pursue the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, as stipulated in Article 6 of the NPT.
The delegation also communicated that Mayors for Peace, by expanding ties of solidarity with civic society, is working on creating an environment that supports the leadership of policymakers, to aim for the creation of a world that is free of nuclear weapons.
There were also other activities, such as a youth forum organized by Mayors for Peace and a lecture by Mayor Matsui at the United Nations International School.
April 29
Ms. Izumi Nakamitsu, UN Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, made a speech at the opening of the preparatory committee.
She referred to the fact that next year is the 50th anniversary of the entry into force of the NPT, and stated that while the situation regarding nuclear weapons is a difficult one, sincere dialogue and negotiations by the participating nations are important to build an NPT framework that brings balanced and stable peace.
After observing the conference proceedings, the delegation met with the Japanese Ambassador and Head of the Delegation of Japan to the Conference on Disarmament, Mr. Nobushige Takamizawa.
Mayor Matsui and Mayors for Peace Vice-President Tomihisa Taue (Mayor of Nagasaki) told the Ambassador that they had asked Mr. Syed Mohamad Hasrin Aidid, the Chair of the Preparatory Committee, to visit the areas affected by the atomic bombing, and Mayors for Peace Secretary-General Yasuyoshi Komizo (Chairperson of this Foundation) told him about moves being made for the adoption of a resolution by state and city councils in the United States for the abolition of nuclear weapons.
This was followed by a meeting with UK Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the Conference on Disarmament Mr. Aidan Liddle.
Mayor Matsui said that if other nations adopted the UK's stance of emphasizing transparency and dialogue then consensus could be reached, and he asked Mr. Liddle to take steps to achieve nuclear disarmament by understanding the strong wish of the hibakusha and leading other nuclear weapon states.
April 30
Mayor Matsui met with Mr. Thomas Hajnoczi, the head of the Disarmament Department in the Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
He talked about the importance of building momentum for the abolition of nuclear weapons in civic society by increasing the number of Mayors for Peace member cities in nuclear weapon states, and said that he would particularly like to work on raising the awareness of the young generation.
Next, the delegation visited the United Nations International School together with the eight high school students dispatched from Hiroshima who were participating in the petition drive calling for all states to join the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons as soon as possible.
Mayor Matsui gave a talk for around 130 high school 2nd year students.
He spoke about the reality of the damage from the atomic bombing and the wishes of the hibakusha, and stated that while it may be difficult to change the mindset of prioritizing the pursuit of national profit and the dependence on nuclear deterrence, it is important to work to ensure that more people in civic societies around the world are aware of the fact that nuclear weapons are not necessary to make the Earth a sustainable place where humankind can continue to live in peace.
After Mayor Matsui's talk, the high school students dispatched from Hiroshima gave a presentation on their own peace activities in front of around forty first-year students from the UN International School, and also participated in an active group discussion on what young people can do to build a peaceful world.
After that, the delegation and the dispatched high school students visited Ms. Nakamitsu, and after Mayor Matsui had explained the high school students' activities, a representative of the high school students gave Ms. Nakamitsu their petition with around 120,000 signatures.
In the discussion that followed, Mayor Matsui stated that Mayors for Peace is an organization of mayors that has the responsibility of ensuring that citizens can live safely with peace of mind, and for this reason the organization will conduct activities on the theme of "a sustainable Earth", to ensure that the experience of Hiroshima and Nagasaki is never repeated.
He also explained that the Peace Memorial Museum is being renewed and its display content is being enhanced, to communicate the reality of the damage from the atomic bombing.
He said he would like to develop public opinion by having many people come to the Museum.
Next, Mayor Matsui met with New Zealand's Ambassador for Disarmament Ms. Dell Higgie.
He requested that New Zealand continue to pursue ratification of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons with countries in the region, and increase the number of ratifying countries.
Ambassador Higgie said that she continues to have high expectations for activities in civic society.
May 1
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Mayor Matsui and Mayor Taue spoke at the NGO session of the preparatory committee in their position as mayors from areas hit by the A-bomb.
With an understanding of the sincere wishes of the hibakusha, they expressed their determination to create an environment that supports policymakers in their efforts to abolish nuclear weapons, together with their partners all over the world.
They also asked that all nations, including nuclear weapon states, engage in serious dialogue and combine their knowhow, and asked for initiatives by policymakers to shift from confrontational security to collaborative security.
Following on from this, the group met with Mr. Daniel Hall, Director of PR Affairs at SGI
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Mayor Matsui (left) giving a speech at the NGO session with Mayor Taue
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(Soka Gakkai International), which works together with PSR (Physicians for Social Responsibility).
At the meeting, Mayor Matsui said that Mayors for Peace would like to build public opinion to lobby governments for disarmament by increasing the number of member cities in nuclear weapon states, and he requested that Mr. Hall provide support in recruiting the US capital, Washington D.C., to become a member.
Next was a meeting with the chair of the preparatory committee, Mr. Syed.
Mr. Syed said that he would like to develop a recommendation to reach a consensus for the 2020 NPT Review Conference.
He also stated that he would like to obtain the support of civic society, in particular young people, on the promotion of nuclear disarmament, and that he has high expectations for the role that civic society will play in the development of public opinion.
Mayor Matsui explained that he places great importance on the wishes of the hibakusha, talks directly with the people, and conducts activities to leave a sustainable Earth for the next generation.
He said that leading up to next year, he hopes that nations will make decisions based on consideration of other countries, and that the conference will be an amalgamation of harmonized content that takes a broad perspective.
Mayor Matsui also met with the members of the NY Hiroshima-kai, an association of people with ties to Hiroshima.
He expressed his gratitude that the association is conducting activities to widely communicate the "Spirit of Hiroshima", and stated that he is moving ahead with city administration initiatives that place top priority on enabling a peaceful life for the citizens.
He also said that he wants to pursue peace administration initiatives that encourage citizens to think about what each of them can do to continue to live peaceful lives.
May 2
The Mayors for Peace Youth Forum was held as a side event of the preparatory committee.
The high school students dispatched from Hiroshima, as well as the Nagasaki Youth Delegation and young people from around the world who participate in the activities of peace NGOs, gave presentations on the content of their respective activities and their thoughts about peace.
There was also a discussion.
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Together with participants in the Mayors for Peace Youth Forum
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Next, Mayor Matsui met with Mayor Frank Cownie, the mayor of Des Moines which is a Mayors for Peace leader city, and New York Mayor Bill de Blasio.
Mayor Cownie explained that the United States Conference of Mayors has passed a resolution for thirteen consecutive years assenting to the abolition of nuclear weapons and Mayors for Peace activities.
He also explained that a resolution calling for the United States government to sign the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons was adopted at the Washington D.C.
city council, and said that he wants to work together and conduct joint activities with Mayors for Peace, an organization of mayors that protects people's lives, calling for other cities to join.
May 3
A discussion session for Mayors for Peace executive cities was held.
In addition to the five executive city members that attended, another city participated via Skype.
Each city gave a presentation on its activities on the theme of "Creating safe cities, full of vitality", which is one of the goals of Mayors for Peace.
Mayor Matsui stated that the important point is to think about how to make the places that our citizens live in safe and secure.
He said that he wants the member cities to continue sharing their various initiatives with respect for different values, aiming for a world without nuclear weapons.
Mayor Matsui next attended the Disruptor Awards ceremony.
This is an award in which the US Disruptor Fund recognizes individuals or organizations that are working towards the resolution of social issues.
The Hersey Prize, established in 2018 to recognize particular contributions in the field of the abolition of nuclear weapons and world peace, was awarded to Mayors for Peace.
After Mayor Matsui had made a speech at the awards ceremony, he brought down the trophy, which is in the shape of a hammer, saying "Let's smash the doctrine of nuclear deterrence with this!"
He also showed the audience the wreath of a thousand paper cranes that he had brought from Hiroshima as a symbol of hope, and was given a warm round of applause.
April 30－May 3
Mayors for Peace held an A-bomb poster exhibition at United Nations Headquarters where the preparatory committee was held, aiming to deepen conference participants' understanding of the reality of the atomic bombing.
Mayors for Peace has high expectations for the 2020 NPT Conference, which is being held in the historic year marking fifty years since the NPT came into force.
To expand the common base of all the signatories regarding the basic objectives and aims of the treaty, on May 10 (the final day of the committee meeting) this Foundation's North American coordinator Ms. Jacqueline Cabasso presented committee chair Mr. Syed with a joint appeal asking for serious dialogue to overcome our differences and come up with creative solutions to definitely and concretely make progress on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation measures.
The appeal was also distributed to all government representatives at the venue.
It was also sent to the United Nations Secretary-General and all United Nations member states, and Mayors for Peace member cities were asked to widely communicate the appeal to the governments and civic society.
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| (Mayors for Peace and 2020 Vision Promotion Division) |
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