NPT Review Conference Ends Without Adopting Final Document; Japanese Groups Criticize Nuclear Powers and Japan

The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference, held in New York, concluded without adopting a final document. In response, the Japan Confederation of A-Bomb Sufferers Organizations (Nihon Hidankyo) and the "Japan Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons," an NGO coalition working towards nuclear abolition, jointly held an online press conference on the 23rd.

They criticized nuclear-armed states for not fulfilling their responsibilities for nuclear disarmament and the Japanese government for its reliance on nuclear deterrence, emphasizing that they "will continue their activities to appeal the inhumane nature of nuclear weapons without stopping."

Jiro Hamazumi, Secretary General of Nihon Hidankyo, who spoke at the NGO session of the Review Conference, expressed his disappointment, stating, "I was hoping we could reach an agreement, so it is regrettable. Nuclear weapons and humans cannot coexist. The appeal for 'human-centered security' is still not widely shared," revealing a sense of crisis.

Satoshi Kawasaki, Executive Director of the Japan Campaign and co-representative of the NGO "Peace Boat," criticized, "Nuclear-armed states are not doing what was decided in the treaty, they even shy away from reconfirming it, and could not even reach a minimum agreement. Countries like Japan, which depend on the nuclear weapons of other countries, are also complicit."

Hideo Asano, Coordinator for the Japan Campaign, who observed the conference on-site, said, "The threat of nuclear weapons is increasing even at this moment, and there is no time to be discouraged. Those who were sending the most powerful messages at the conference were from civil society, like Hamazumi-san. We want to continue to raise our voices to overcome the conflict." [Noboru Ushiki]