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

As of 22nd, 52 countries and regions have ratified it.

Among the ratifying countries are the countries of the Pacific Islands, where nuclear tests have been conducted for about half a century since World War II.

One of them, the UN Ambassador to the United Nations, Tebrolo Sito, who had visited the atomic bombed area of ​​Hiroshima, worked on ratification of Kiribati.

I heard that thought.



(Interviewer: Haruka Nochi, International Broadcasting Station)

What kind of country is Kiribati?

Kiribati is an island country with a population of over 110,000, consisting of three islands.

The total area of ​​the country including the islands is about the size of Tsushima in Nagasaki Prefecture, but the water area covers 3800 km east-west and 2000 km north-south.



In Kiribati, the United States and Great Britain conducted more than 30 nuclear tests from the 1950s to the 1960s.

"Revolution with the entry into force of the treaty"

(Reporter)


"It came into effect about three and a half years after it was adopted by the



United Nations.

"

(UN Ambassador Shito)


"It is a pity that few countries have ratified it, but the weight is the same regardless of the size of the country. More than 50 I am very pleased that the treaty has come into effect with the participation of the national and regional governments. "



" The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, unlike previous treaties, clearly states that nuclear weapons are inhuman and illegal. That means they don't trust each other and are scared. "



" That's why we needed a revolutionary nuclear weapons ban treaty. "

Protest against nuclear test, inauguration of president, and to Hiroshima

(Reporter)


"When did the ambassador become more enthusiastic about the abolition of nuclear weapons?"



(UN Ambassador Shito)


"Dating back to the 1970s when I was a student. I attended a university in Fiji, the same Pacific country. However, nuclear tests continued on the islands of the Pacific Ocean at that time, and I also participated in protests. "



" Then, in 1994, I became the president of my home country. One of the goals I set at that time was the United Nations. It was a member of the United Nations, because Kiribas wanted to play a part in the global efforts to eliminate nuclear weapons. "

"After joining the United Nations, it was my visit to Hiroshima in 2001 that made me feel even stronger. I witnessed the misery at the Atomic Bomb Museum and vowed that I should never make the same mistakes again."

Expectations for supporting victims of nuclear tests

The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons provides medical, rehabilitation, and psychological support to ratified countries and regions for individuals affected by the use and testing of nuclear weapons.




(Reporter)


"How will this treaty affect the victims of nuclear tests in Kiribati?"



(UN Ambassador Sito)


"In Kiribati, some people are still suffering from nuclear tests. The number and symptoms of the victims are not known in detail, and there is no compensation. I would like to take the opportunity of the treaty to come into effect to summarize the damage situation of the nuclear test in Kiribati and to use the help of the ratifying countries for relief.



" In that sense, this treaty will give hope to the victims of Kiribati. "

"From now on"

Nuclear weapon states have not ratified the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.

In addition, NATO = members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Japan, South Korea, etc., which depend on nuclear deterrence, do not participate.



(Reporter)


"What are the challenges after the treaty comes into effect?"



(UN Ambassador Shito)


"It's about to start. Some of us Pacific countries have different opinions on the treaty and have not ratified it. There is a feeling that we must respect the fact that each country has various circumstances, but we need to continue to persuade them not to create victims in the future. "



" This is nuclear possession. The same is true for the country, Japan, etc. The ratifying countries will continue to speak out as one. "