Mayors for Peace sent a delegation to the second session of the Preparatory Committee (PrepCom) for the 11^th Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), which met in Geneva, Switzerland. The delegation included President Kazumi Matsui (Mayor of Hiroshima), Vice President Shiro Suzuki (Mayor of Nagasaki), Secretary General Takehiro Kagawa (Chairperson of the Hiroshima Peace Culture Foundation (HPCF)), and Vice Chairperson of the HPCF Shiro Tani.
　　At the conference, we were convinced that, while the international situation is becoming increasingly tense and progress in nuclear disarmament is facing difficult circumstances, future-oriented discussions are beginning to take place to promote progress, including the need to further advance humanitarian initiatives.
　　During this visit, the delegation was able to meet and exchange a wide range of opinions with representatives from the United Nations, the Japanese government, and nuclear-weapon states, as well as with representatives from countries promoting the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) and international peace NGOs. Through these dialogues, we reaffirmed the critical importance of advancing advocacy efforts at international conferences. And we are also convinced of the vital importance of outreach activities, such as peace education through platforms like Mayors for Peace and the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, in collaboration with relevant organizations, with the fundamental focus on contributing to the development and dissemination of international humanitarian initiatives, while keeping the reality of the atomic bombing in mind.

Speeches at the NGO presentations session

President Matsui emphasized that the experiences of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, which clearly demonstrate that the use of nuclear weapons will lead to the destruction of humanity, should be the basis for the abolition of nuclear weapons. He profoundly concerned that, with the current international circumstances, the perception of nuclear weapons are drastically shifting from 'weapons that must never be used' to 'weapons that can be used under certain conditions', though Hiroshima and Nagasaki have continued to advocate that nuclear weapons must never be used. He went on to point out that the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum saw a record number of annual visitors, indicating that an increased sense of alarm regarding the current international situation has brought so many visitors to reaffirm the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of using nuclear weapons. He also implored policymakers to take into account the voices of a peace-loving civil society, and to reconsider their support for arms races and for strengthening nuclear capabilities immediately and instead, adopt diplomatic efforts through dialogue and advance concrete nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation measures. Next, Vice-President Suzuki spoke about the devastating consequences of using nuclear weapons on people and cities. He then appealed to all nations, especially those possessing nuclear weapons, stating, "Nuclear weapons must never be used. The only way for humanity to avoid the risk of nuclear weapons is to abolish them." He concluded his speech by sharing with the world the common wish of humanity, "Make Nagasaki the last wartime atomic bombing site."
　　Thus, at the session, the mayors of the two atomic bombed cities strongly appealed to the governments of each country about the inhumanity of nuclear weapons, based on the reality of the atomic bombings, as a fact that serves as the most important foundation for advancing nuclear disarmament.

Meetings with Representatives of the UN

The delegation met with the Secretary-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG), the Executive Director of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), and the Director of the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR), and exchanged views on future cooperation between each organization and Mayors for Peace. In the meeting with Secretary-General of the UNOG, the discussion also touched upon how to further develop the exhibition on the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki currently being held at the headquarters in Geneva.
　　At the screening of the documentary film "Paper Lanterns⁽¹⁾", co-hosted by UNIDIR and Delegation of Japan to the Conference on Disarmament, President Matsui gave opening remarks, stating, "I pray that future generations will not repeat the tragic history experienced by those in this film."
　　This film expresses the wonderful mutual understanding between the people of Japan and the United States, and it reminds us that mutual understanding among citizens of various countries is key to spreading awareness of the reality of the atomic bombings internationally.

Meetings with Representatives of Nuclear Weapon States

The Mayors for Peace delegation met with representatives of three nuclear weapons states: France, the United States and the UK. In the meetings, we explained that both states have Mayors for Peace member cities and referred to the increasing number of peace-loving members of civil society calling for the abolition of nuclear weapons. We implored each representative to value the voice of civil society, adopt diplomatic efforts through dialogue, take initiatives in good faith, and support the initiatives of Mayors for Peace. We also exchanged views on each country's approach to nuclear disarmament.

Meeting with countries promoting the TPNW

The delegation also met with representatives from Thailand, Ireland, and Mexico, as well as the Chair of the second session of the NPT PrepCom, who is also the government representative of Kazakhstan. We expressed our respect to the long-standing efforts to promote the TPNW and asked for their understanding and cooperation with the initiatives of Mayors for Peace, calling for all states to join the TPNW at the earliest date.
　　Ambassador Usana Berananda of Thailand stated that as one of the founding members of the TPNW, Thailand is promoting the complementarity of the TPNW with the NPT and would like to cooperate with global organizations such as Mayors for Peace. She stated clearly that the experiences of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki concretely demonstrate the humanitarian consequences of nuclear weapons.
　　During the PrepCom, Thailand and Ireland co-hosted a side event to discuss the humanitarian consequences of nuclear weapons. In this event, Irish Ambassador Noel White stated that experts should be invited to the NPT to discuss humanitarian consequences.

Meeting with international peace NGOs

The delegation met with representatives from ICAN, the Arms Control Association (ACA), Parliamentarians for Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament (PNND), International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW), Marshall Education Institute, and the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation (NAPF). The delegation informed them of plans to hold atomic bomb poster exhibitions around the world for the 80^th year since the atomic bombing approaching next year, and to promote peace education, especially among the younger generations. Also the delegation called for support for Mayors for Peace, for example by asking relevant NGOs to cooperate in countries where the poster exhibition will be held, and agreed to work together with them even further in the future.

Mayors for Peace Youths Activities

Eight high school students engaged in peace activities in Hiroshima were dispatched to this PrepCom as "Mayors for Peace Youth" to nurture the next generation of peace activists. During the meeting with Ms. Izumi Nakamitsu, Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs of the United Nations, a youth handed her a certificate of approximately 44,000 signatures calling for all states to join the TPNW at the earliest date.
　　Mayors for Peace Youth Forum, held as a side event for the PrepCom, featured presentations by eight groups of young people, including Mayors for Peace Youth and young people engaged in peace activities around the world. They exchanged opinions on challenges in promoting peace activities. Participating youths commented, "It was a good opportunity to get to know people of the same age who are involved in a variety of activities and roles," and "I was reminded of the importance of working toward the abolition of nuclear weapons from various perspectives, without being restricted by traditional frameworks." In closing remarks, Ms. Nakamitsu stated that the future belongs to the youth and thus, the youth should always be involved in the decision-making process to make the future better. She encouraged everyone present to continue to be involved in peace activities and to continue to develop them.
　　During the meeting with Ms. Ichikawa, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Permanent Representative of Japan to the Conference on Disarmament, she encouraged the youths to see the footage and documents related to the reality of the atomic bombings with their own eyes, feel them with their own hearts, and then, to explain those in their own words to many people in their future activities.
　　They also met with Ms. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO). She explained to the youths that the WTO is striving to make the world a peaceful and sustainable place, and to combat climate change through trade systems. Afterwards, the youths asked her questions about approaches to the abolition of nuclear weapons and gender, and the Director-General, one of the most famous female leaders in the world, answered them carefully and gave encouragement to the younger generation.