Statement by H.E.Mr.Mari AMANO

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Head of the Delegation of Japan

to the Conference on Disarmament

At the first Committee of the 67th Session

Of the General Assembly

 

- Thematic Debate: Disarmament and Non-proliferation Education -

2 November 2012, New York

 

Mr. Chairman,

 

There has been much debate on how to create an international environment conductive to the achievement of a peaceful and secure world.  Japan firmly believes that promoting disarmament and non-proliferation education is one answer to this question.

 

To be sure, the importance of education on disarmament is recognized by not only Japan, but also the vast majority of the international community.  The Final Document of the 2010 NPT Review Conference highlighted education as a useful and effective means to achieve a world without nuclear weapons.  It encouraged all states to implement the recommendations contained in the report of the Secretary-General on gthe United Nations Study on Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Educationh.  Japan wishes to emphasize the significance of those recommendations and encourages all the member states of United Nations to put them into practice.  In this connection, on 25 October, Japan and the United Nations Office of Disarmament will organize a side-event on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the Secretary-Generalfs report.    

 

Furthermore, this year Mexico has submitted to the General Assembly the biannual resolution on the UN study.  As one of the resolutionfs co-sponsors, Japan hopes that it will again be adopted by consensus with more co-sponsors than ever before.

 

 

Mr. Chairman,

 

In order to push forward disarmament and non-proliferation, gaining the support and understanding of the younger generations and civil society is crucial.  To this end, Japan has been at the forefront of educational efforts in this area.

 

Given the experiences of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan has a special mission to inform and pass on to all the people of the world, especially the youth, memories of the catastrophic humanitarian consequences caused by nuclear weapons.  In this regard, Japan started a program called gSpecial Communicators for a World without Nuclear Weaponsh in 2010.  Under this program, the Special Communicators, who are all gHibakushah, atomic bomb survivors, have been travelling the world passing on their experiences of the nuclear bombings.  So far a total of 86 Special Communicators have been involved in 46 events worldwide.  In addition to our initiative of the Special Communicators, every year since 1983 we have been inviting young diplomats and government officials to Japan through the UN Disarmament Fellowship Program.  This year 25 fellows visited Hiroshima and Nagasaki to learn about the terrible realities of atomic bombings.  We believe it was an eye-opening experience for them.

     

From 10 to 11 August this year, Japan jointly held with the United Nations University gThe Global Forum on Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Educationh in the city of Nagasaki.  The forum brought together educators, diplomats, researchers, and members of civil society to share experiences, compile best practices and develop partnerships to advance disarmament and non-proliferation education.  The Forum issued gthe 2012 Nagasaki Declarationh, which expressed the firm commitment of @participants further promoting efforts in disarmament and non-proliferation education.  We will continue such efforts together with civil society.

 

Mr. Chairman,

 

Japan believes in the great potential of disarmament and non-proliferation education for achieving progress towards a peaceful and secure world.  We call on all the Member States to join efforts in this field.

 

I thank you, Mr. Chairman.