The 2023 World Conference against A and H Bombs
Declaration of the International Meeting
As seen in the war in Ukraine and nuclear threats the world is facing a serious situation where
the danger of the use of nuclear weapons is real and growing. Assembled in Hiroshima fromaround the world we call with the Hibakusha that nuclear weapons must never be used in any
circumstances whatsoever and that they should be totally and completely abolished even a day
sooner.
The atomic bombs targeted against Hiroshima and Nagasaki on August 6 and 9, 78 years ago
by US forces, instantly destroyed the two cities and created a “hell on earth” unlike anythinghumans had ever before experienced. Some 210,000 lives were lost by the end of 1945, andthose who narrowly survived those days later suffered from radiation diseases and other aftereffects, and were subjected to social and economic discrimination. This tragedy should neverbe allowed to happen anywhere again.
There are still about 12,500 nuclear weapons in the world. Their eradication is an urgent andvital task for the survival of humanity.
The Russian Government under President Putin should immediately cease the aggression andthe threat to use of nuclear weapons. The US, the UK, France, China and other nuclear powersthat cling to their nuclear arsenals also have a heavy responsibility to bear. The threat or use ofnuclear weapons is a direct violation of the principles of the UN Charter which stipulates thepeaceful resolution of international conflicts, and their elimination is an obligation for all thestates in line with Resolution No.1 of the first UN General Assembly.
It is absolutely unforgivable that the G7 Summit in Hiroshima openly asserted their doctrine
for “nuclear deterrence”, and thus taunted the Hibakusha and the A-bombed cities. The NATO
Summit in July this year declared anew that nuclear weapons are “unique” for their security,
and reiterated its posture to cling to nuclear weapons.
The strengthening of the US-centered military bloc, such as the expansion of NATO or its ties
in the Asia-Pacific, is dividing the world and escalating a dangerous vicious cycle of militaryto-military and nuclear-to-nuclear confrontation. North Korea is repeating missile tests inbreach of UN Security Council resolutions; the US, South Korea and Japan are reinforcing their1

military confrontation, including “nuclear deterrence”; the situation around the Korean
Peninsula is thus becoming even more dangerous.
While the nuclear superpowers turn their back on nuclear disarmament, the global trend
empowered by the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), continues to gather
momentum. Sixty-eight countries have ratified the treaty; 92 countries have signed it, reachingnearly half of the UN member states; and further efforts to increase its member states arecontinuing. This unwavering development presents to us a great hope for “a world without
nuclear weapons.”
The TPNW shows that if the international community unite and work together with civilsociety, it can exert great power to change the world. The way to achieve a “nuclear weaponfree, peaceful and just world” will lie in further developing this international cooperation
while strengthening the campaign in respective countries to press governments to join theTPNW.
We develop our movement in our countries and our international cooperation in the following
demands:-The use and threat of nuclear weapons is contrary to both the UN Charter andInternational Humanitarian Law, and can never be forgiven. We demand that all states
rigorously observe this rule. The “nuclear deterrence” doctrine, as means to ensure
security, cannot be justified on any ground and must be firmly rejected.

-The TPNW is now functioning as international law, as is the “Action Plan” formulated
at the first meeting of the States Parties, including support for victims of the use andtesting of nuclear weapons, and has begun to take concrete shape and steps. Thesecond meeting of the States Parties will take place from November 27 in New York.
We call on all countries to cooperate with the States Parties and support the treaty andparticipate in the meeting.

-Preparations for the 11th Review Conference of the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty(NPT) in 2026 have started (First preparatory committee meeting, July 31-August 11in Vienna).

We emphatically call on all the NPT States Parties, especially nuclear

weapon states, to faithfully implement their obligations to negotiate on nuclear
disarmament as required by Article VI of the Treaty and the successive agreements ofthe past review conferences, including the “unequivocal undertakings” to eliminate
their nuclear arsenals.
-Nuclear weapon-free zones should be strengthened and expanded. The nuclear2

weapon powers must secure the effectiveness of these NWFZ treaties with legalguarantees. We welcome the efforts to establish a nuclear weapon-free zone in theMiddle East and call for its early realization. North Korea must halt its developmentof nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles. We call on all countries concerned to resume
the efforts to achieve the denuclearization and peace of the Korean Peninsula. Theregional tension at the South China Sea and the East China Sea requires an effort toresolve the problem by diplomatic and peaceful means without resorting to unilateral
actions.
-Russia must immediately cease its aggression against Ukraine and withdraw all its
forces from it.

Making the nuclear power plant a military target is the violation ofinternational humanitarian law, which mush never be permitted. We call on theinternational community to unite in defense of the UN Charter opposing a division ofthe world, seek a solution based on the UN General Assembly resolutions, support allefforts in pursuit of peace and justice, and work hard to rebuild and strengthen theorder of peace. We call for an end to the responses based on military blocs that deepen
military confrontations and divisions and impede the resolution of problems. Regional
conflicts must be resolved on the basis of international law and by peaceful means.
Only by such framework that is inclusive and having no hypothetical enemies,
common security for all will be guaranteed. We oppose the increase in military
expenditures and demand their drastic reduction.
The responsibility of the Kishida government, which presided over the G7 Summit and its
blatant “nuclear deterrence doctrine” is extremely heavy and shameful. The true message fromthe A-bombed city should be the swift abolition of nuclear weapons. We strongly urge Japan,
which witnessed Hiroshima and Nagasaki tragedies, to break out of the dependence on the US“nuclear umbrella” and support and participate in the TPNW.
The Kishida government is deepening its reliance on the US “nuclear umbrella”, and isproceeding with massive military build-up in violation of Japan’s Constitution as is arming thenation with the capacity to attack enemy bases under the pretext of strengthening “deterrence”.
With the militarization of Okinawa and other Nansei Islands, Japan is being turned into thefrontline base of the US strategy toward China. It is further moving to assume a key role to link
Asia to NATO. At the basis of all this lies the policy of absolute commitment to the Japan-US
military alliance. We extend our solidarity with the Japanese movement in their demand that
the Japanese government should take appropriate action as the only country to have sufferedfrom the A-bombings at war and as a country having a war-renouncing Constitution.
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We appeal to the anti-nuclear peace movements all around the world the following actions:-Let us disseminate the realities of the sufferings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki as well as
the inhumane consequences of the use and testing of nuclear weapons; Let us ensure
the success in the international joint actions for the common demand of the abolitionof nuclear weapons. Let us support the Hibakusha in Japan and Korea and the othernuclear victims in the world in their activities.

-Let us strengthen the campaign pressing for the support and participation in the TPNW
in the non-signatories of the treaty, particularly in the nuclear weapons states and thecountries that rely on their “nuclear deterrence”,-Rallying campaigns in many countries, let us develop cooperation between nationalgovernments and civil society on the occasion of the opening of the 78th UN General
Assembly, the Second Meeting of the States Parties to the TPNW and the PrepCommeetings of the NPT.

In response to the 2nd MSP to the treaty, let us make successin the internationally coordinated actions.
-Let us promote many forms of cooperation with various peace movements for a cut inmilitary spending, dismantling of foreign military bases, dissolution of military
alliances, compensation and support for the victims of war such as of Agent Orange,and rooting out the damage, promotion of peace education, and end to the Ukrainian
war on the basis of the principles of the UN Charter.

-Let us extend solidarity with various other movements, such as for the protection oflivelihoods, lives and human rights, for zero nuclear power plants, overcoming climate
crisis, securing gender equality, and for freedom and democracy.

To overcome the present grave situation, the role of the public opinion and movement is ofdecisive importance. With the Hibakusha, we are determined to make headway always withever-wider participation of new, younger generation.
August 5, 2023
International Meeting, the 2023 World Conference against A and H Bombs

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