Preamble

We, the 57 participants of the 7th Hiroshima Junior International Forum, held during August 16th and 20th 2022, gathered online from 12 countries to learn about and discuss the abolition of nuclear weapons and peacebuilding.

We, the younger generation, understand that billions of people around the world are frightened by the risk of nuclear weapons being used in the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. We also understand that not only in Ukraine but also around the world, there are millions of people whose lives and safety are threatened by armed conflicts. The issues of abolition of nuclear weapons and peacebuilding are just as important as ever.

We have a responsibility to free people from the threat of nuclear weapons and to restore dignity to people in conflict zones. In order to take action on nuclear abolition and peacebuilding, we, the youth of today, need to acquire expertise and build a network of like-minded peers. With the strong will of the people of Hiroshima, at this forum we had a chance to listen to the testimony of hibakusha and lecture of experts as well as discussing the challenges and solutions for abolition of nuclear weapons and peacebuilding.

The Hiroshima Declaration is the final output of all that we have learned and discussed over these 5 days. The Hiroshima Declaration is an action plan for ourselves and a proposal for like-minded people around the world.

 

<Challenges and Solutions for Abolition of Nuclear Weapons>

✧ Toward nuclear weapons abolition, we recognize the lack of wide range global awareness about this topic. Many people might be shocked when they find out that there is a nuclear weapon pointing directly at the place they are living in right now. The dropping of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima is a historical event that all people, especially the young generation, should know about. The event was not just about how many people died and how great the impact of the bombing was, but also the existential fact that human invention could potentially end our race or even our planet.

✧ For this challenge, we suggest a campaign “Nuclear Fear Information Dissemination” throughout the globe. As we recognize the lack of knowledge of people around the world about the situation we suggest information dissemination as a great factor of recognizing the problem. It can be a forum between young leaders in each country tackling the fear brought about by the presence of nuclear weapons across the globe. Different topics relating to nuclear fear such as nuclear terrorism, which is the presence of terrorists as a threat in regards with nuclear weapons that they may steal anytime if these nuclear states do not take their preventive and security measures seriously, will also be included in the said forum. From this we hope people will wake up and open their eyes wide and start to act in a proactive way. We believe that for democratic nuclear states, people are the government, thus citizens hold the power. From the forum, understanding and obtaining knowledge about the situation is a way for them to create a petition for their government to abolish these weapons.

✧ For this challenge, we recommend that it is important to implement “peace education” in school curriculums. As many countries don’t have enough knowledge about this issue, the help of the government on sharing the knowledge is highly recommended.

 

<Our Role for Abolition of Nuclear Weapons>

✧ We, the young people, commit to continue the campaign and urge everyone to sign a petition to abolish these nuclear weapons. In the current status quo, most people do not have much information about nuclear weapons. We are sure that we can change this situation and we must do so.

✧ We, the young people, commit to share information about nuclear weapons and tell stories of Hiroshima by using global tools such as social media. By doing so, everyone can feel the fear of nuclear weapons and realize that we should abolish them. From this, aside from sharing the knowledge we are also creating global friendships.

✧ We, the young people, commit to make opportunities for everyone to get knowledge about nuclear weapons. For example, we can reach out to international organizations of countries around the globe, especially non-nuclear states, to help us share knowledge by introducing education about nuclear weapons in school curriculums.

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<The Role of Hiroshima for Abolition of Nuclear Weapons>

✧ We believe that Hiroshima can convey the fear of nuclear weapons and correct the knowledge through peace learning. We also believe that one of the things we can do is to pass on to as many people as possible the testimonies of the survivors of the hibakusha and share how great the after effects of the exposure of radiation were.

✧ We believe that the Hiroshima Memorial Peace Park is a major contribution to understanding the fear brought about by nuclear weapons threatening the world.

✧ We expect that Hiroshima should give more chances to visit it and allow people who are not from this city to experience the atmosphere. For example, they should hold more online tours to learn more about Hiroshima.

 

<Challenges and Solutions for Peacebuilding>

✧ Towards Peacebuilding, we recognize invisible violence happening all over the world that seems to be one of the roots of physical violence and physical violence itself like civil wars happening in some countries. An example of invisible violence is discrimination, can be gender discrimination, discrimination of religion, or race discrimination. Many countries are experiencing chaos due to groups being discriminated against and are now appealing for their rights, yet some governments seem to still ignore them.

✧ For this challenge, we demand a cease-fire of all wars. We think we have to work together to solve these problems by collaborating across borders. For that reason, we believe that constant conflicts cause nothing but displacement and consequent disruption of medical, water and distribution systems, and so should be ended as soon as is possible.

We think it is necessary to understand each other correctly too. Prejudice against women is also a big problem.

We also suggest for invisible violence that we start looking at it as a serious problem and stop normalizing it. So in regards to discrimination, a great way to solve these problems is for the international organizations of countries to take the initiative to persuade their country members to make an action.

✧ For this challenge, we recommend in terms of discrimination to have at least one representative of these groups in the government to see a direct point of view of what each of these groups are fighting for. Thus the government should listen to their voices and respect their presence in the government.
✧ Additionally, we suggest that we should reform the United Nations system so that all countries can be equal. For example, we ought to abolish the veto power at the United Nations Security Council and create a new system so that each country can display their opinion. We think that this is one way to create a peaceful world.

 

<Our Role for Peacebuilding>

✧ We, the young people, commit to eliminate prejudice. To reach this goal, we should have interests in many things and learn in depth, especially about peacebuilding and international issues. For example, we will encourage our fellow youth by sharing the importance of reading newspapers and watching news programs to broaden our views and that we should study hard at school to gain insights into pertinent issues.

✧ We, the young people, think that famine and the gap between the rich and the poor is partly caused by the suspension of the distribution system caused by conflict and civil war leading to a negative spiral that leads to further conflicts and civil wars in search of food and money. And we also believe that cooperation among countries and support beyond national boundaries are necessary. This is the reason why conveying these ideas to our government officials is what we can do.

✧ We, the young people, commit to talk and interact with many people who have different backgrounds to understand each other and avoid misunderstanding. There is always the risk of hurting someone before we know it. To reduce the risk, we must be exposed to many different ideas. Furthermore, we can hold forums to achieve this goal. It is a good way to know each other, build global relationships, and study how to build a peaceful world.

 

<The Role of Hiroshima for Peacebuilding>

✧ We believe that Hiroshima can share its inspiring story to the world by using video and the internet and help us grow into people who will pass onto the next generation about peace buildings because many “Hibakusha” are old now. Therefore we must tell the story about the day of the atomic bombing for the future. So, Hiroshima should hold some events involving peace buildings for the people who don’t know the day’s story. For example, HIroshima should provide a variety of forums like this.

✧ We believe that Hiroshima should support the global “Hibakusha”because in the world, there are many “Hibakusha”. Hiroshima has some radiological association. So, we think we should be able to use that experience to teach a lot.

✧ We expect the city of Hiroshima to suggest and entreat the Japanese government to contribute more actively to world peace. Japan has an important role in the world as the only A-bombed country. In order for Japan to contribute to world peace, the A-bombed cites like Hiroshima and Nagasaki should make full use of its experience in rebuilding the city after the bombing and provide assistance to these conflict affected cities.

Closing

All the participants have come together and made the Hiroshima Declaration. But we cannot stop ourselves here. We pledge to put the action plan into practice. We are also determined to keep learning and expand the network of like-minded people through dialogue. When we interact with people, we promise to be sensitive to diversity and respectful of each other, as we have been in our dialogue with the participants of this forum.

We understand that the world faces many challenges and difficulties each of which requires concrete and concerted action. With the support of the people of Hiroshima and the friends we have made at this forum, we are standing at the starting line full of enthusiasm. We are keenly aware of our power and responsibility, and hereby declare our determination to live up to the Hiroshima Declaration.

 

August 20, 2022