On the Occasion of the Fiftieth Country’s Deposition of Instrument ofRatification (Accession) of the Treaty on theProhibition of Nuclear Weapons
October 25, 2020
Japan Confederation of A-and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations(Nihon Hidankyo)
On October 24 of this 75th anniversary of the atomic bombing, the fiftieth deposition of theinstrument of ratification (or accession) of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons
has been completed, meeting the requirement for entry into force of the treaty.
It is a remarkable accomplishment achieved 3 years since the treaty was adopted by 122
countries at the U.N. on July 7, 2017. The TPNW is to enter into force early next year, when
90 days have elapsed after October 24. With this, nuclear weapons will be prohibited by thetreaty both in name and in reality. A sure path has been opened to achieving the Hibakusha’s
long-time aspiration of abolishing nuclear weapons. This day will be engraved in humanhistory, together with the days on which the first nuclear weapons were detonated over ourheads in August 1945.
Having long called for the prohibition and elimination of nuclear weapons, we the Hibakusha
welcome this day with great joy, truly feeling that our survival has been rewarded. We would
like to report this achievement to the hundreds of thousands of victims who were killed 75
years ago without knowing what had happened, as well as to our forerunners who havededicated their lives to the cause of the Hibakusha movement. At the same time, we would
like to share our joy with so many people and organizations, both in Japan and internationally,
who have supported the Hibakusha and worked together with us over many years in themovement to abolish nuclear weapons and create a world free of nuclear weapons and war,
and also with the governments and citizens of the countries who have committed toachieving the entry into force of the treaty.
However, the five nuclear powers, recognized as the nuclear weapon states in the Nuclear
Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT), their allies and 4 other nuclear-armed states continue tooppose the TPNW. To our great regret, Japan, the only country to have suffered from theuse of nuclear weapons in wartime, remains among them.
To date, the Japanese government has argued, “Though nuclear weapons are contrary to
the spirit of humanitarian laws, they are not illegal, as there is no positive law explicitly
banning them” and “The International Court of Justice, while ruling that the threat or use of
nuclear weapons was illegal, did not make a definitive conclusion in an extreme
circumstance, in which the very survival of a State would be at stake.” Based on thesearguments, it has maintained that the use of nuclear weapons is not prohibited byinternational law, and continues to uphold a security policy relying on nuclear deterrence.
But now, such excuses no longer pass muster. The Japanese government and its Diet
should play a leadership role in achieving a total ban on nuclear weapons. Once again, werequest the Japanese Government to change its nuclear policy immediately, sign and ratify
the TPNW without delay and work in the forefront for the achievement of a nuclear weaponfree world.
We the Hibakusha have continued to work both in Japan and in other countries to bear
witness to the fact that atomic bombs are weapons of absolute evil, which cannot coexist
with human beings. Since 2016, we have promoted the International Hibakusha Appeal
Signature Campaign, asking citizens of the world to support our appeal to all governments
to conclude a treaty to ban and eliminate nuclear weapons.
Today, many citizens in nuclear-armed countries have come to know that nuclear weapons
are anti-human and unnecessary. With the TPNW coming into force, it would be illegal inlight of international law to invest vast amounts of money, time and human resources toproduce and possess them. But the danger of nuclear weapons being used is not yeteliminated. If that happens, the potential consequences would be immeasurable.
The aspiration of the Hibakusha is to ensure that “no more Hibakusha will be created”. Not
much time is left for aging Hibakusha. With all our might, we will continue to walk with all ofyou peace-loving people towards a world without nuclear weapons or war.