１　 Overall Overview

  From July 31 to August 5, 2023, Hiroshima Prefecture/Hiroshima Organization for Global Peace(HOPe) participated in the First Meeting of the Preparatory Committee for the 11th Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), held at the Vienna International Center. Reporting its efforts along with those made by Hiroshima Prefecture and HOPe, we conducted outreach for the elimination of nuclear weapons. A delegation from the Hiroshima Prefecture Assembly also participated in the meeting of the Preparatory Committee and the side events organized by Hiroshima Prefecture/HOPe.

【Schedule】　 July 31, 2023 – August 5, 2023
【Place】　Vienna, Austria

【Activities】

〇　 Hosting side event with Nagasaki Prefecture ” Sustainable Peace and Prosperity for All ” (August 1,2023)

〇　Hosting side event ” Looking Beyond Nuclear Deterrence: A Mid-term Perspective on Nuclear Disarmament” (August 2, 2023)

〇　Outreach Activities toward Relevant Parties from the U.N. and Various Countries (July 31, 2023 – August 3, 2023)

（a） Ms. Izumi NAKAMITSU, Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs

（b） Ambassador Goetz Schmidt-Bremme, Permanent/Resident Representativeof the Federal Republic of Germany to the Office of the United Nations and to other International Organizations, Vienna 　

（c） Ambassador Adam M. Scheinman, Special Representative of the President for Nuclear Nonproliferation (SRNN), US Department of State

（d） Ambassador Jarmo Viinanen, Chair-designate of the First Session of The Preparatory Committee for the 11th Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons

（e） Ambassador Takeshi HIKIHARA, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Permanent Representative of Japan to the International Organizations in Vienna

（f） Ambassador Ryuta MIZUUCHI, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to the Republic of Austria and Kosovo

（g） Ambassador Luis Javier Campuzano, Permanent Representative of Mexico to the United Nations (Vienna)

（h） Ambassador Teburoro Tito, Permanent Representative of Kiribati to the United Nations

  ○ Banner Display at the Venue of the First Meeting of the Preparatory Committee for the NPT Review Conference

２　 Main Activities

Outreach Activities at the First Meeting of the Preparatory Committee for the 11th NPT Review Conference

At the First Meeting of the Preparatory Committee for the NPT Review Conference, we held two side events. One was a discussion event held in cooperation with Nagasaki Prefecture to explore the nexus between nuclear weapons and sustainability under the theme “Sustainable Peace and Prosperity for All.” The other was designed to discuss medium- to long-term nuclear disarmament efforts based on the theme “Looking beyond Nuclear Deterrence: A Mid-term Prospective on Nuclear Disarmament.” In addition, we directly met key players of the Preparatory Committee and encouraged them to support the efforts made by Hiroshima Prefecture. We also organized a banner display at the venue to show our efforts along with those made by Hiroshima Prefecture.

“Sustainable Peace and Prosperity for All” (August 1, 2023)

At the event, a wide variety of organizations explained their visions and activities from the backcasting perspective of what to do now in order to achieve the elimination of nuclear weapons as soon as possible by 2045. The event also included a discussion on the nexus between nuclear weapons and sustainability.

【Date】 August 1, 2023
【Venue】Conference Room M4（Vienna International Centre）
【Theme】 Sustainable Peace and Prosperity for All
【Moderator / Panelists】

Moderator ： Kunihiko SHIMADA, Principal Director of HOPe
Panelists ：
　・ Ms.Asako OKAI（ UN Assistant Secretary-General and Director, UNDP Crisis Bureau, UNDP ） ※Online Participation
　・ Ms. Patricia Jaworek （ Program Officer of Global Nuclear Policy Program, NTI (Nuclear Threat Initiative) ）
　・ Mr. Sebastian Brixey-Williams （ Executive Director, BASIC (British American Security Information Council)

　・ Ms. Marcina Langrine  (Program Manager & ESG Coordinator, MEI (Marshallese Education Initiative) )

【Participants】

・25 participants (Including 7 participants from Hiroshima Prefecture Assembly)

・14 online participants　

【Main Discussion Points】

• The UNDP indicated that today, when the threat of nuclear war and cultural divisions are moving politics and policies away from a fair and inclusive society, there is a call for new approaches and solutions that ensure sustainability. It emphasized the importance of taking action, rather than waiting for an appropriate environment to be established, and adopting a perspective of contributing to humanity and the planet, regardless of each individual’s interest, in order to increase trust and unity.
• The NTI analyzed the nuclear issues as system problems in which policies, human actions, behaviors, decisions, beliefs and assumptions interact with one another. It stated that it is necessary to act through cooperation between the nuclear community and other relevant sectors, deepen understanding of the long-term impact caused on society, the economy, and the environmental system by the use of nuclear weapons, and create a positive picture of a world without nuclear weapons.
• BASIC indicated that nuclear weapons cause a lot of harm to humans and the earth in the process from their manufacture to use. It also pointed out that the safety of nature and the environment is the basis of human livelihood, and if this basis collapses, humans will be no longer able to continue their normal lives. After referring to these points, it introduced efforts to consider a sustainable security system in Europe after the Ukraine war.
• The MEI talked about the nuclear tests at Bikini Atoll and explained their impact on the residents of the Marshall Islands, as well as their history. Indicating their continuing impact on the local ecology, natural environment, and culture, the MEI concluded that nuclear weapons and environmental issues are the biggest threat to world peace.
• The event ended with HOPe Youth Ambassadors introducing the organization’s campaign “Cranes for Our Future” and calling for participation.

Side Event ” Looking Beyond Nuclear Deterrence: A Mid-term Perspective on Nuclear Disarmament” (August 2, 2023)

This event featured discussions by experts regarding possible medium- to long-term nuclear disarmament efforts as measures to be taken beyond the current risk management phase, as well as regarding the importance of reconsidering nuclear deterrence and thinking about alternatives.

【Date】 August 2, 2023
【Venue】Conference Room M4（Vienna International Centre）
【Theme】 Looking Beyond Nuclear Deterrence: A Mid-term Perspective on Nuclear Disarmament
【Moderator / Panelists】
Moderator ： Dr. Nobumasa AKIYAMA（Dean of the the Graduate School of International and Public Policy, Hitotsubashi University
Panelists：
　・ Dr. Tytti Erästö （Senior Researcher Weapons of Mass Destruction Programme Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI))
　・ Dr. Andrew Futter (Professor of International Politics, University of Leicester)
　・Dr. Stephen Herzog (Senior Researcher, Center for Security Studies ETH Zurich)

【Participants】

・22 participants (Including 7 participants from Hiroshima Prefecture Assembly)

・28 online participants

【 Main Discussion Points 】

• Even if arms control negotiations between the U.S. and Russia do not progress, nuclear deterrence can be fully implemented with a few thousand nuclear weapons. In the medium term, the adoption of minimum nuclear deterrence with a minimum number of nuclear weapons can increase the possibility of avoiding the catastrophic consequences of deterrence failure. Furthermore, there are things that not only nuclear-weapon states but also nuclear umbrella states can do. The advantages of participating in nuclear deterrence should be examined from the perspective of costs and benefits.
• Nuclear deterrence and nuclear disarmament cannot be considered separately. Strategic non-nuclear technologies may be able to partially serve as an alternative for the roles that have been played by nuclear weapons. Moreover, in order to achieve a world free of nuclear weapons, it is important to strike a balance between civilian and military use of nuclear technology to promote nuclear disarmament and development. If we want a world without nuclear weapons, it is essential to design what kind of world that will be.
• Reducing the risks posed by nuclear weapons is not disarmament, but rather a policy for surviving in a world with nuclear weapons and avoiding the dangers of nuclear weapons. Nuclear deterrence is mostly achieved by the luck of the times, and there is no absolute guarantee for avoiding failure. On the other hand, nuclear deterrence provides a basis for other states to seek protection through nuclear weapons.
• To overcome nuclear deterrence, a bold change is necessary. It is required to delineate a long-term desirable and feasible method for nuclear disarmament. In the academic field, a considerable amount of time in academic classes on nuclear issues is allocated to study on nuclear deterrence. With nuclear disarmament handled only as a reference topic, alternatives to nuclear deterrence are not even discussed. The Harvard University-MacArthur Foundation Beyond Nuclear Deterrence Working Group is engaged in discussions on this lacking part with experts from around the world to make a change.
• The event ended with HOPe Youth Ambassadors introducing the organization’s campaign “Cranes for Our Future” and calling for participation.

Outreach Activities toward Relevant Parties from the U.N. and Various Countries (July 31, 2023 – August 3, 2023)

During the stay, Governor Yuzaki had individual meetings with key players engaged in the operation of the First Meeting of the Preparatory Committee for the NPT Review Conference, as well as with relevant parties from various countries. While handing them the Chair’s Statement of the Hiroshima Round Table, we directly encouraged them to properly proceed with nuclear disarmament at the conference.

Banner Display at the Venue of the First Meeting of the Preparatory Committee for the NPT Review Conference

３　 Achievements

< Contribution to the First Meeting of the Preparatory Committee for the NPT Review Conference>

• Toward the 2026 NPT Review Conference, we emphasized the multifaceted importance of the elimination of nuclear weapons and nuclear disarmament based on the two new perspectives of sustainability and medium- to long-term security through the discussions by experts at our side events, despite the severe discussions in the Preparatory Committee.

< Increase of Supporters >

• We gained support from side event participants, conference members, etc. regarding the new approach promoted by the Global Alliance to raise the issue of nuclear weapons from the perspective of sustainability. This support will add momentum to our efforts to include the elimination of nuclear weapons in post-SDGs in the future.

< Policy Creation >

• We exchanged views directly with ambassadors and other key players regarding the formulation of alternative security policies beyond nuclear deterrence and gained their understanding and support for the direction to take and such policies’ necessity.

< Reinforcement of Information Dissemination from the A-bombed Areas >

• Hiroshima and Nagasaki, both A-bombed prefectures, cooperated again as they had done in the previous year in organizing a side event. They also jointly organized meetings with conference operators, thereby strongly demonstrating to parties related to the conference the importance of progress in the elimination of nuclear weapons and nuclear disarmament.
• The dispatch of a delegation from the Hiroshima Prefecture Assembly was considerably significant in that it showed that the entire government of Hiroshima Prefecture is committed to its measures toward realizing a peaceful world free of nuclear weapons.

< Youth Ambassadors’ Activities >

• The HOPe Youth Ambassadors, who accompanied the meeting participants, attended the side events and called for participation in the campaign “ Cranes for Our Future” in their own words. They also attended meetings with parties related to the conference and asked them directly to participate in the campaign. Moreover, they observed a discussion at the First Meeting of the Preparatory Committee for the NPT Review Conference. The experience of observing the negotiation on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation served as a good opportunity to foster the next generation.

４ Reference

Side event URL（Reaching Critical Will）
https://reachingcriticalwill.org/disarmament-fora/npt/2023/calendar