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Welcoming UN Disarmament Fellows
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We welcomed trainees (Fellows) participating in the United Nations Programme of Fellowship on Disarmament to Hiroshima over three days from October 2, 2019. The programme is run by the UN and aims to train disarmament specialists.
This programme has been run by the UN since 1979.
Fellows have been welcomed in Hiroshima every year since 1983, and with the fellows this year, the total number of fellows coming to Hiroshima has passed 900.
This time, twenty-seven young diplomats and others from twenty-five countries and regions attended.
After arriving in Hiroshima on October 2, the group toured the Peace Memorial Museum and presented flowers at the Memorial Cenotaph for the Atomic Bomb Victims.
At the welcome reception, they interacted with local participants including Atomic Bomb Witnesses and others.
The next day, on the 3rd, the group toured various places including the Peace Memorial Hall for the Atomic Bomb Victims and the Atomic Bomb Dome.
They also received gifts from Hiroshima citizens including books and CDs that convey the reality of the atomic bombing, and a donation of paper cranes folded using copper sheet from local high school students.
After listening to an atomic bombing testimony, the group visited the Radiation Effects Research Foundation, where they listened to a lecture by Vice-Chairman and Executive Director Mr. Ullrich about the effects of radiation on the human body.
They were also given a tour of the facility.
On the 4th, the final day, the group were given an explanation by the chairperson of this Foundation, Mr. Takashi Koizumi, on Mayors for Peace activities aiming for the abolition of nuclear weapons.
Members of the group commented that they were very moved by their visit to Hiroshima.
Over the three days, through the tour of the Museum and the testimony by an Atomic Bomb Witness, the group was able to deepen their understanding of the reality of the atomic bombing, and share the desire of those in a region hit by the atomic bomb for the abolition of nuclear weapons and the realization of perpetual world peace.
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The group of fellows touring the A-Bomb Dome
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| (Mayors for Peace and 2020 Vision Promotion Division) |
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