At the 2010 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), for the first time, the Final Document that achieved consensus among all countries included the so-called humanitarian approach, an approach to nuclear abolition for the sake of human survival, bearing in mind "the devastating inhumane consequences of nuclear weapons".
　Subsequently, after the Joint Statement on the Humanitarian Consequences of Nuclear Weapons (2014) and the Conferences on Humanitarian Impact of Nuclear Weapons (2013, 2014), the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) was adopted by a Majority of the world's nations on 7 July 2017.

1. What is "humanity"?

　The TPNW is commonly referred in Japan as a humanitarian approach to nuclear abolition. Humanitarian means "to be in accordance with the path that we should follow as humans and to take such a standpoint." In the scope of this definition, "humanity" is translated as "human nature" in Japan. Discussions on the TPNW in Japan are currently focused only on this aspect of "humanity".
　However, the English word "humanity" contains another important meaning, that of "humankind". When discussing the issue internationally, one must adopt this definition in order to be able to participate in the discussions and accurately understand the basic nature of the TPNW.
　For example, the Russell-Einstein Manifesto, an extremely important document for nuclear weapons abolition, calls to us as human beings to forget about other things and always keep "humanity" in mind, as its most important message. This manifesto states that it is a question of choosing "not as a member of a particular nation, continent, or creed, but as a member of the human race, a species whose existence is in jeopardy," and that it is a question of "whether to bring about its extinction, or whether humankind will renounce war."
　In this way, "humanity" has an important meaning of "humankind", and it should be understood also that the TPNW is a treaty that strengthens not only the humanitarian aspect but also the security of humankind. In this sense, what the TPNW advocates is "humanity" in the sense that it includes both meanings, and in terms of content, it should be interpreted as a humanitarian and humankind's approach.
　The hibakusha's desire for peace, which is rooted in their atomic-bomb experience, transcends grief and hatred, and leads to a truly "humanitarian and humankind's approach", as they have called for nuclear abolition for the sake of human survival.

2. What is human security?

　The term "security" is now used extremely broadly and is frequently used to emphasize the importance of a concept, such as environmental security or economic security. The original definition of security is "how to respond to external threats," and historically and traditionally it has meant military security, and this remains a fundamental and central concept today.
　Military security in the international community has traditionally been used in the sense of protecting one's own country against threats from other countries. This has been discussed as "national security". National security as a matter of military response, including war among nations, was the most important issue in international relations. When the League of Nations and the United Nations came into existence, the concept of "international security", or security among nations, was proposed. The primary objective of the United Nations is defined as "to maintain international peace and security."
　The current vision of the TPNW is the "security of humanity". This goes beyond the security of individual nations and security among nations and aims to ensure the security of all peoples of the earth.

3. How should the TPNW be strengthened?

　Nuclear weapons states and nuclear allies have expressed strong opposition to the TPNW, arguing that it undermines the NPT and seek to deny the very existence of the latter treaty. However, at the NPT Review Conference in August 2022, the draft final document of the conference specified the adoption, opening for signature, and entry into force of the TPNW, and the holding of the Meeting of States Parties to the TPNW. Although it was not formally adopted due to Russian opposition, it is believed that there was general agreement on the content of the TPNW.
　In order to strengthen the TPNW, efforts should be made to increase the number of signatories and ratifying nations from the current status of 93 and 69, respectively, as of September 2023. In particular, the participation of states that are parties to the Treaty on a Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone and have not signed or ratified the TPNW should be encouraged, and the participation of the 122 countries that agreed to adopt the TPNW should be targeted. The TPNW and the NPT, while sharing the same basic recognition of the "humanitarian and humankind's approach", in other words, the inhumanity of the use of nuclear weapons, for the time being, we should lobby non-nuclear weapon states, to strengthen compatibility and complementarity.

4. What should the Japanese government do?

　The Government of Japan is absolutely opposed to the TPNW and is also opposed to participating as observer in the Meeting of States Parties to the Treaty. Prime Minister Kishida cites the fact that "not a single nuclear-weapon state has joined" as the reason for this. He has also often stated that the Treaty is the exit for nuclear weapons abolition. If so, this end point should be pursued. Regarding observer participation in the Meeting of States Parties, since NATO members Germany, the Netherlands, and Norway, which are in the same position as Japan, participated in the First Meeting of States Parties and are pursuing the possibility of cooperation, Japan can and should actively cooperate in areas such as assistance for the victims of the use and testing of nuclear weapons.