Nuclear Weapons Ban Treaty comes into effect Domestic movements to support the treaty gradually spread

The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, which bans the development and possession of nuclear weapons, came into effect on the 22nd.

The Government of Japan has indicated that it will not participate in the treaty, but parliamentarians and local governments are gradually supporting the treaty.

The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons will come into effect at midnight on the 22nd of local time in each of the 50 countries and regions ratified by October last year.

The Japanese government has indicated that it should not participate in the treaty, saying that it should involve nuclear powers and promote nuclear disarmament, but the group "Member Watch" that promotes the treaty, which is made up of students and NGOs, hears about the position on the treaty. However, since October last year, when the treaty came into effect, 44 members of the Diet answered that they would agree, and 163 people, or 23% of all members, have indicated that they agree.

On the other hand, two lawmakers did not agree with the treaty, and about 76% of the lawmakers did not respond.

In addition, since October last year, the councils of 23 municipalities have decided to submit a written opinion requesting the government to join the treaty, and the total number of those already sent is 523, which is 30% of the national total. about it.

An additional 20 governors said they agreed with the treaty.

Yuta Takahashi, a university student who surveyed, said, "Although interest in the treaty is growing, many lawmakers do not think about it. In order to prevent nuclear disarmament from stagnation, we would like to encourage discussions with the help of civil society." I'm talking.

Setsuko Thurlow "The first step towards the abolition of nuclear weapons finally acquired"

Regarding the entry into force of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, Setsuko Thurlow (89), a survivor living in Canada who was exposed to the atomic bomb in Hiroshima at the age of 13 and has been appealing for the abolition of nuclear weapons by talking about her own experience of atomic bombing around the world for many years. "I'm so happy to jump up. I think I've been active for 75 years and finally won. But this is the" ban "of nuclear weapons, and there is a long way from the ban to the abolition, and it's a joy that can't be expressed in words. At the same time, I feel a heavy sense of responsibility. "

"The treaty is the first step towards the abolition of nuclear weapons that we have finally acquired by working so far, and is a gift for you and future people. I will work as long as I live, but I will do what I have acquired. I want you to enliven the movement until it can be abolished without waste. "

On the other hand, he said that the Japanese government has indicated that it will not participate in the treaty. "I would like the government to listen a little to the fact that the A-bomb survivors have been suffering so much and have been complaining for 75 years." Requested participation in the treaty.

On top of that, as a message to Japan, "The only unthinkable thing about dropping an atomic bomb happened in Japan, so that the same thing would never happen to Japanese people again. I want you to know that you have to raise your voice loudly to secure the lives of the offspring that will be born. You have to appeal to the government and move on. "

Hiroshima Prefectural Union "Light of Hope"

Tomoyuki Minomaki, acting chairman of the Hiroshima Prefectural Union, put up a handmade board in front of his house in November last year with the date until the treaty came into effect.

On the 20th, two days before the entry into force, Mr. Minomaki said, "I saw a light of hope. I have low hopes that the number of ratifying countries will increase to 60 and 70 in the future."

On the other hand, regarding the fact that nuclear-weapon states and Japan, which depends on nuclear deterrence, are not participating, Mr. Minomaki said, "I would like Japan to ratify No. 1 as well. The survivors are aging and their activities are becoming difficult. I can't give up, "he said. In the future, he will start a new signing activity to ask the Japanese government to join the treaty, and will strengthen his efforts.

The Japanese government

Regarding the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, the Japanese government has clarified its stance of not participating, saying that it is not realistic to aim for nuclear disarmament because the countries possessing nuclear weapons such as the United States have not participated.

At a press conference on the 7th of this month, Prime Minister Suga shared the goal of abolishing nuclear weapons, which the treaty aims to be the only country exposed to the war, but in order to realize a world free of nuclear weapons, the countries possessing nuclear weapons were involved. It is indispensable to proceed with nuclear disarmament, "he said, reiterating the idea of ​​not signing the treaty.

Prime Minister Suga also stated that "it is necessary to carefully assess" the participation of observers in the Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, which is required by the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

As the threat of North Korea accelerating nuclear development increases, the government cannot deny the need for nuclear deterrence and says that nuclear disarmament should be persistently promoted with the participation of nuclear-weapon states.

In August, the NPT = Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, which sets the direction of global nuclear disarmament, will be held, and the government will lead the discussion as a bridge between countries with different positions and be international. I want to show my presence.