STATEMENT BY H.E. MR. SUMIO TARUI

AMBASSADOR EXTRAORDINARY AND PLENIPOTENIARY

HEAD OF THE DELEGATION OF JAPAN

TO THE CONFERENCE ON DISARMAMENT

AT THE FIRST COMMITTEE OF THE 62^ND SESSION

OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

THEMATIC DEBATE: DISARMAMENT AND NON-PROLIFERATION EDUCATION

22 OCTOBER 2008

NEW YORK

Mr. Chairman,

As one of the members of the 2002 UN Study on disarmament and non-proliferation education, Japan places great importance on this issue. For example, there has been much debate on how to create an international environment conducive to the achievement of the total elimination of nuclear weapons, as well as how to maintain a world free from such weapons after their total elimination. Japan believes that promoting disarmament and non-proliferation education is one answer to these questions.

Japan therefore strongly believes that education is a key to promoting disarmament and non-proliferation, and lays a basis for any concerted international efforts. Education not only provides information, but motivates people to address the challenges and problems through critical thinking. We therefore need to be educated as well as to educate.

Cooperation with civil society in this regard cannot be overemphasized. A notable example is the Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Education Seminar, which Japan co-hosted with the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) during the Second Session of the Preparatory Committee of the 2010 NPT Review Conference on 30 April in Geneva. A central theme of this seminar was to discuss how to pass on the experience of atomic bombings to future generations. Discussions among people from various backgrounds, such as two Hibakushas (atomic survivors), a disarmament educator, a professor and a high school teacher who actually conducts disarmament and non-proliferation education classes in a Russian nuclear city, made the seminar very interesting and insightful. This is a good example of cooperation between governments and civil society.

Mr. Chairman,

This year, a biannual resolution on the UN study on disarmament and non-proliferation education has been submitted by Mexico. Japan has been one of its co-sponsors. Japan hopes that this resolution will again be adopted by consensus with more co-sponsors than in the past.

Thank you.