International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement Conference in Nagasaki
80 participants from 35 counties listen to the presentation. The conference ended successfully.
From Nagasaki to the World――。
A strong wish towards a treaty establishment of nuclear weapons abolition
On April 24, the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement Conference was held in Nagasaki, and an action plan for the abolition of nuclear weapons was discussed. From Japan, a victim of nuclear attack, to the world, a wish for abolition of nuclear weapons was sent out.
The International of Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement Conference was held from April 24 through 26 in Nagasaki with the aim at banning and elimination of nuclear weapons. The conference was jointly hosted by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the Japanese Red Cross Society(JRCS); around 80 representatives from National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies participated from 35 countries. The participants, whose countries have varied backgrounds regarding nuclear weapons, exchanged views on this issue. The purpose of this conference was to discuss an action plan of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement for the future, in anticipation of the negotiation in the United Nations towards a treaty establishment of nuclear weapons elimination.
At the beginning of the conference, Mr. Tadateru Konoe, President of Japan Red Cross Society, who is the President of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, clearly stated "Treaty establishment of nuclear weapons elimination is coincident with the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies' philosophy, and we should not miss this golden opportunity to materialize this treaty", in anticipation of the start of the 2nd negotiation meeting in mid of June towards treaty establishment of nuclear weapons elimination by UN.
In addition, Ms. Christine Beerli, Vice President of ICRC, said "We are standing at a significant turning point. The Red Cross Movements have a duty to continue speaking up for the progress of a treaty establishment of nuclear weapons elimination." She stressed the importance of the Red Cross taking actions for nuclear weapons elimination.
At the end of the 3-day conference, the "Nagasaki Action Plan" was adapted. Its contents are: each Red Cross and the Red Crescent Societies has a dialogue with each government to urge participation in negotiation meetings for a treaty establishment of nuclear weapons elimination, and to request to take urgent relief measures by re-acknowledgement of risks brought on by nuclear weapons.
The necessity to raise awareness of nuclear weapons among the young generation was also confirmed. This November, a new resolution towards a nuclear weapon prohibition and elimination, as well as a coming 4-year action plan by the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, will be jointly suggested to the ICRC at the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies Movement Representatives Conference
At this conference, the participants visited Nagasaki as a victim of nuclear attack and listened to the testimonies of those bomb survivors. Afterwards, they expressed commitment to the elimination of nuclear weapons as the "Nagasaki Declaration".
They stated, "To realize a nuclear weapon free world is our duty to the next generation, and it is our common responsibility for the continuity of human beings." Whether or not we can put an end to the nuclear era is critical now. The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement will continue to speak out so that we will not miss this great opportunity and push forward this momentum.
※On the Japan Red Cross Society website you can find the full text of the Nagasaki Declaration.
Newsletter, June 2017 by JRCS