2019 World Conference against A and H Bombs

Declaration of the International Meeting
To make the year 2020, the 75th anniversary of the atomic bombing, a historic turning point, we callfor action with the Hibakusha to achieve a nuclear weapon-free, peaceful and just world.
There are still some 14,000 nuclear weapons on the planet. Rooting out this threat is an urgent task
bearing on the security of the world and the future of the human race. Deeply understanding theexperience of the Hibakusha, many people are standing up for action for the abolition of nuclear weapons.
And broad range of citizens, especially young people, are joining actions for the solution of the climatechange and other critical problems for the survival of the human race. Let us bring all these efforts together
to build a worldwide movement.
Two atomic bombs dropped by the US on Hiroshima and Nagasaki 74 years ago instantly destroyed
the two cities. They claimed the lives of about 210,000 people by the end of that year. The atomic bombs
did not allow people to die humanly deaths nor live humanly lives. Those who barely survived the momentlater suffered from A-bomb diseases and social discrimination. Nuclear weapons are unparalleled,devilish weapons that thoroughly trample on human dignity.
The nuclear powers, clinging to the policy of “nuclear deterrence”, are increasing the danger ofnuclear weapons being used.
Reinforcing the readiness to use nuclear weapons, the US is continuing to develop new types ofnuclear-armed missiles. Unilaterally withdrawing from the INF Treaty and leading to its expiration, the USis also seeking to consolidate its nuclear supremacy. In response, Russia openly suggests a possible
preemptive use of tactical nuclear weapons in regional conflicts, as well as a development of new nuclear
weapons. We are witnessing a dangerous situation leading to a new nuclear arms race.
The five nuclear weapon states strongly oppose the TPNW together, showing hostility against theinternational current for the abolition. They are ignoring the past pledges and agreements to achieve a“world without nuclear weapons”, and even Article 6 of the NPT which stipulates the obligation to negotiate
for nuclear disarmament. “Creating an Environment for Nuclear Disarmament (CEND)” proposed by theTrump Administration is nothing but an attempt to indefinitely postpone nuclear disarmament by placing
pre-conditions for it.
Nuclear power and nuclear-dependent states leaders insist that nuclear weapons are necessary forthe security of their countries. Yet the “nuclear deterrence” policy is based on the premise of actually using
nuclear weapons. Use of nuclear weapons for any reason whatsoever or against people of any country
would result in catastrophic consequences that can never be justified in terms of their inhumanity. A “worldwithout nuclear weapons” is the only way to ensure security for all without the threat of nuclear weapons.
A call for “a world without nuclear weapons” represents the overwhelming majority in bothinternational politics and among global citizens. In isolation from them, nuclear powers are united inmaintaining and consolidating their nuclear arsenals despite contradictions and conflicts. The
confrontation between the forces that cling to nuclear weapons and those that stand for the elimination ofnuclear weapons forms a basic structural fault line regarding nuclear disarmament in today’s world.
The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) has established new norms that render1

nuclear weapons completely illegal, and making an important first step for their total abolition. It is creatinga huge political and moral pressure on the nuclear powers. Their resistance and counteractions are anexpression of their weakness. The TPNW has already been signed by 70 countries and ratified by 24. Its
entry into force is a matter of time. When it comes into force it will certainly have significant impact.
The NPT will mark the 50th anniversary next year since its entry into force. Despite its inequality
acknowledging the five powers possess nuclear arsenals, it is supported by many countries as it stipulates
the obligation of conducting negotiations on measures for nuclear disarmament (Article 6). The Nuclear
Five must not keep turning their back on this obligation. They are severely questioned by many acrossthe world about whether they ever plan to fulfill their treaty obligation.
As seen in the number of agreements reached in the NPT Review Conferences since 2000 and theadoption of the TPNW, the global movement and public support have played the key role in achieving thebreakthrough. Now is the time for the global anti-nuclear movements and civil society to bring their role
into full play.
The US unilaterally pulled out from the JCPOA and is making the danger of armed confrontation
imminent. The use of force, including nuclear weapons, should be prevented by all means. The
heightening tension between nuclear-armed India and Pakistan is also causing grave concern. We
strongly demand that the UN Charter rules for peaceful settlement of conflicts should be honored and thatthe problems be resolved through dialog and diplomacy. We urge the USA and DPRK to movenegotiations forward and implement in good faith their Joint Statement in Singapore (2018) for thedenuclearization of, and building a peace regime on the Korean Peninsula and normalization of the USDPRK relations. We call on all parties concerned to step up their efforts for the peaceful settlement of thisproblem, strictly refraining from the threat of force or provocations.
In pursuit of the “My country First” principle, great powers are increasingly belittling or simplydisregarding multilateral agreements. Yet, this is no longer a time when superpowers can prevail in theworld whenever they please to serve their own interests. All urgent global problems, such as climatechange, depletion of natural resources, poverty and inequality, can be solved only through multilateral
cooperation, including the participation of civil society. Nuclear and other arms build-ups are massive
wastes of resources, and render solutions of other global issues more difficult. We demand theestablishment of a world order based on the peace principle of the UN Charter and multilateralism.
We extend our solidarity with the Japanese movement in its demand that the Japanese government
should play its role befitting the only A-bombed country. As more than 400 municipalities have adopted
resolutions to urge the Japanese government to sign and ratify the TPNW, this opinion is gaining broad
support. Having witnessed the inhuman nature of nuclear weapons, Japan should quit the US “nuclearumbrella”, and support and participate in the TPNW. We express our firm support to the people ofOkinawa. The US and Japanese governments should stop building a new US base at the Henoko districtof Nago in Okinawa, which Okinawans have repeatedly rejected by overwhelming votes, and return theFutenma US Base immediately. In order to improve the deteriorating Japan-ROK relations, a sensible
response from Japan is necessary, separating politics from economics and self-critically facing straight
into the history of its aggression and colonial rule. Diplomatic efforts based on the peace principle ofJapan’s Constitution, beginning with Article 9, and not the military build-up and reinforcement of theJapan-US military alliance, is the only way to establish peace in Japan and East Asia.
As we approach the 75th year of the atomic bombing, let us build up a huge anti-nuclear opinion to2

overwhelm pro-nuclear forces.
It is of crucial importance to enhance our activity to make known the inhumane consequences of theuse of nuclear weapons, of the A-bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in the first place. The key toovercome the “nuclear deterrence” doctrine lies in revealing the catastrophic, anti-human nature of theuse of nuclear weapons.
We must build the majority opinion to press for signing and ratification of the TPNW in the nuclear
armed or dependent countries. Further strengthening of our cooperation with parliamentarians, politicalparties and local governments to this effect is necessary.
The 2020 will also mark the 75th anniversary of the founding of the UN. We must remind ourselvesof its first resolution, which set the starting point for post WWII international politics by calling for “theelimination of atomic weapons”. Using such occasions as the forthcoming UNGA session and the NPT
Review Conference, we need to build cooperation between civil society movements and governments.
To achieve these goals, we call for the following actions:-- Speaking tours by Hibakusha, photo exhibitions on the damage from A-bombings and many otherforms of action devoted to the abolition of nuclear weapons; the International Signature Campaign in
Support of the “Appeal of the Hibakusha of Hiroshima & Nagasaki for the Elimination of NuclearWeapons”, which will soon reach 10 million. Let us make a leap in it towards next year’s NPT Review
Conference and the session of the UNGA in 2020. We must work hand in hand with theHiroshima/Nagasaki Hibakusha, victims of Bikini Test and all other nuclear victims around the world.
-- Success in the world conference against A and H bombs in New York and related international joint
actions timed for the 2020 NPT Review Conference.
-- Development of cooperation with a variety of movements working on peace against war, including:Cut in military expenditure; Settlement of conflicts by peaceful means; Opposition to the reinforcement offoreign military bases and demand for their removal; Opposition to the consolidation of military alliancesand demand for their dissolution; Support and compensation for the victims of Agent-Orange and otherwar damage; and Promotion of peace education.
-- Solidarity with social movements for Zero nuclear power plants; Protection of global environment;
Overcoming poverty and economic gaps; Improvement of living standards, employment security,protection and improvement of social security; Gender equality; Protection and development ofdemocracy and human rights; Achieving the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) and other tasks.
The average age of the Hibakusha has now exceeded 82. We must speed up our efforts to meet thedesire of the Hibakusha for the “elimination of nuclear weapons in our lifetime”. The struggle of the people
against nuclear weapons which inherently deny human dignity is winning support across generations andnational boundaries. Together with all people who want to live in dignity as humans, let us make every
effort to achieve a nuclear weapon-free, peaceful and just world.
Hiroshima, August 5, 2019
International Meeting, 2019 World Conference against A and H Bombs

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