1st year of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons ICAN "Expectations for Japan's Contribution to Strengthening the Treaty"

It has been one year since the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, which prohibits the development, possession, and use of nuclear weapons, came into effect on the 22nd.

Finn, Executive Secretary of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, an international NGO that contributed to the conclusion of the treaty and won the Nobel Peace Prize, said that now that tensions are rising around the world, we should work to strengthen the treaty and contribute to Japan. Showed expectations.

The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, which came into effect a year ago, has been ratified by 59 countries and regions, while nuclear-weapon states such as the United States and Russia and Japan under the umbrella of the United States' nuclear weapons have not participated. Hmm.

In an interview with NHK, ICAN Secretary-General Beatrice Fihn praised the increasing number of countries participating in the treaty, while nuclear-weapon states are modernizing their weapons, and conflicts between the United States and China and Russia are everywhere. "The threat of actual use of nuclear weapons is increasing year by year. Now is the time to work on nuclear disarmament and strengthening of the ban treaty," he said.

In addition, he welcomed the intention of non-participating countries such as Germany and Norway to participate as observers at the first conference of the parties to the treaty scheduled for March. Japan is expected to have concrete discussions on support for victims of nuclear tests, and Japan has advanced and specialized knowledge in this field and can contribute to the treaty regardless of its political position. " , Japan also expressed its expectation to participate in the conference.

Signing activity at the call of ICAN

On the 22nd, one year after the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons came into effect, one of the nuclear-weapon states, France, called for ICAN to sign the government to participate in the Conference of the Parties.

France has not ratified the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, saying that it is "a treaty that is not suitable for the context of international security and undermines a realistic approach to gradual nuclear disarmament." I am taking the same position of not supporting it.

Of these, in the capital Paris, members of NGOs working on nuclear issues handed out leaflets to passers-by to emphasize the significance and importance of the treaty.

"I don't think most French people even know the existence of a nuclear weapons ban treaty," said Nelly Kostcardo, an NGO who participated in the signing activity. , We should discuss with other countries at the meeting. "

United Nations Disarmament Division Top "Japan Takes Action to Abolish Nuclear Weapons"

Regarding the one year since the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons came into effect, Deputy Secretary-General Izumi Nakamitsu, who is the head of the disarmament division at the United Nations, told his Twitter on the 22nd, "This treaty is an important force to promote the abolition of nuclear weapons. With this as a tailwind, we must double our efforts to abolish nuclear weapons. We look forward to further discussions and actions even in Japan, the only country exposed to the war. "