Remarks by Mr. Kazumi Matsui
Mayor of Hiroshima
2015 Review Conference of the States Parties to theTreaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), NGO Session
United Nations Headquarters, New York
1 May 2015, 15:00-

It is an honor for me to address delegates and non-governmental groups attending
this 2015 NPT Review Conference.
To begin, I would like to express my deep sorrow for the tens of thousands ofvictims of Nepal where a destructive massive earthquake hit, and convey my deep
condolences to the bereaved families. Last August we experienced a tragic disasterinvolving mud slides caused by record heavy rains and lost a lot of citizens inHiroshima. As Mayor of Hiroshima, I would like to share my deepest sympathy
with the citizens of Nepal and I wish fervently for the recovery of the devastatedsite as early as possible.
On this year, which marks the 70th anniversary of the first atomic bombing in thehistory of humanity, many citizens including the atomic bomb survivors(hibakusha) from Hiroshima and Nagasaki have gathered here in New York City
with a strong wish for the presentation of a concrete roadmap for nuclear weaponsabolition at this conference. Today, representing the atomic bombed cities ofHiroshima and Nagasaki, and as the president of Mayors for Peace, an organizationconsisting of over 6,600 like-minded member cities from 160 countries and regions
around the world, I would like to say a few words.
At 8:15 a.m. on August 6, 1945, the single atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima
reduced the city to ruin through the massive radiation and fierce heat rays and blastthat it released, killing indiscriminately non-combatants like women, children, andthe elderly, who accounted for the vast majority of the 350,000 people who were in
Hiroshima at the time. The number of those who perished as a result of the atomic
bombing reached approximately 140,000 by the end of 1945.
Furthermore, those who just barely managed to survive have been tormented bylifelong suffering, such as the sorrow of losing their families and friends, the longterm effects of the radiation, and concerns about their health. Even now, 70 years
after the atomic bombing, the survivors continue to suffer from deep wounds ontheir bodies and souls.

1/4Seeing the reality of the atomic bombing, it is clear that nuclear weapons are theultimate inhumane weapons, and are an absolute evil.
For some seven decades now, the hibakusha have been recounting theirexperiences. Having experienced indescribable suffering, they have arrived at theirunshakable conviction that “no one shall ever again suffer as we have”, andcontinue to spread the inhumane impacts of the atomic bombing to the world,
ringing the alarm bell. Appealing that the only way to guarantee that nuclear
weapons are never used again is the total elimination of nuclear weapons, they
have been putting in their best efforts towards the realization of a world without
nuclear weapons. Mayors for Peace gives full support to this earnest appeal of thehibakusha.
In this context, I note with acclaim that both the 2000 and 2010 NPT Review
Conferences adopted consensus language referring to nuclear disarmament as
offering the only “absolute guarantee” against any future use—or threat of use—ofsuch weapons. I also welcome the fact that the 2010 Review Conference voiced its
deep concern at the continued risks posed for humanity by the possible use of theseweapons and the catastrophic humanitarian consequences that would result, andreferred to a nuclear weapons convention.
I am similarly encouraged by the impressive attendance at the three majorinternational conferences that have been held in recent years in Norway, Mexico,and Austria on the humanitarian consequences of nuclear weapons. These
conferences included opportunities to hear testimonies from the hibakusha, which
encouraged the resolution for nuclear weapons abolition among the participants
even further. Through these conferences, the participants deepened their awarenessabout the inhumanity of nuclear weapons, as well as on the risks that nuclear
weapons may actually be used as a result of misunderstanding or accident.
Additionally, the recognition that nuclear weapons have absolutely no role to playin maintaining international peace, is widely being shared. Currently, many of thegovernments attending these conferences are working closely with civil society toadvance this humanitarian approach.
Some people, however, insist that nuclear weapons abolition requires a security
environment that will make this possible. Mayors for Peace, an organization ofwhich I serve as president, not only appeals for nuclear weapons abolition, but isurging the governments of various nations to shift from the security system relying
on “nuclear deterrence” based on mutual distrust and threat, to a more humane andsustainable security system. And, in support of such a shift, we work hard withwide-ranging civil society partners to cultivate a shared sense of world community
rooted in an awareness that we all belong to the same human family. This way of2/4

thinking is in line with the principles of the Charter of the United Nations, such as
the elimination of all sorts of weapons of mass destruction, a reduction in military
expenditures, the prohibition of threat or use of force. The member cities ofMayors for Peace, supporting this cause, have increased by approximately 2,000
cities in even just the past four years of my term as mayor, and this number
continues to increase at an accelerating rate. Currently, the population of all thesecities makes up one-seventh of the total population of the world, and like-minded
citizens around the world are increasing even further.
Others claim that mutual distrust among nations and the existence of terrorists are
impeding nuclear disarmament. However, we of Mayors for Peace cannot agreewith this assertion. When so many sensible people from all across the civil society
are struggling hard to promote mutual understanding among international society,in the aim for a peaceful world without nuclear weapons, what is the significanceof political leadership? It is now the time for the policymakers of the world,
especially those of nuclear weapon states, to demonstrate decisive leadership andwork together towards nuclear weapons abolition and the creation of aninternational environment that will make it possible. The hibakusha, Mayors for
Peace, and various like-minded groups in the civil society around the world will
give full support to such political leadership, and are willing to work together toachieve it.
Consolidated efforts by state and city governments, parliamentarians, women,youth, scholars, lawyers, doctors, artists, environmentalists, human rights activists,and countless other constituencies can change the world.
I would therefore like to appeal to everyone participating in the current NPT
Review Conference to work together to achieve a successful outcome. In thisregard, I am convinced that the realization of a nuclear-weapon-free world will
require a nuclear weapons convention or some other legal framework with thesame goal. Article VI of the NPT requires not only nuclear weapons states but also
all its parties to pursue negotiations in good faith on nuclear disarmament.
However, a wide legal gap still remains towards the total prohibition of nuclear
weapons even after the 45-year history of the NPT. Now is the time at thisconference that the NPT Parties agree to begin negotiations to close this legal gap
and, in particular, to start negotiation on a nuclear weapons convention at theearliest possible time.
In conclusion, I strongly urge the representatives of all the states parties to the NPT
to unite and make a significant step forward toward nuclear weapons abolition at
this 2015 Review Conference, and let us never give up in the pursuit of this great
3/4

cause until it is finally achieved. On our part, we, Mayors for Peace, together withwide-ranging civil society partners will do everything that we can.

4/4