At The First
Committee of the 69th Session
of the General Assembly
- Thematic Debate:
Disarmament and Non-proliferation Education -
28 October 2014, New York
Mr.
Chairman,
Japan firmly believes that promoting nuclear disarmament and
non-proliferation education underpins all efforts for achieving a world free of
nuclear weapons.
The Final Document of the 2010
NPT Review Conference underscored education as a useful and effective means for
that purpose, and encouraged all States Parties to implement the 34 recommendations
contained in the report of the Secretary-General on “The United Nations Study
on Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Education.” In this regard, Recommendation 31 of the
report requests Member States to inform the UN ODA of steps taken to implement
the recommendations. Unfortunately,
according to the 6th biennial report of the
Secretary-General on Disarmament and Non-proliferation Education (A/69/113),
only nine countries, including Japan, submitted the relevant information. This regrettable
result should be improved and we need to nurture “a culture of reporting” among
ourselves. We encourage all the Member States to put into practice the
Secretary-General’s recommendations and report to the UN Office for Disarmament
Affairs.
This year Mexico submitted to the General Assembly the biannual
resolution on the UN study, which reaffirms the importance of implementing the Secretary-General’s
34 recommendations. As a co-sponsor, Japan hopes that it will again be adopted
by consensus.
Mr.
Chairman,
To overcome the challenges to
disarmament and non-proliferation, the role of civil society and the younger
generation is essential.
The “2012 Nagasaki
Declaration” which was an outcome of the “Global Forum on Disarmament and
Non-Proliferation Education” hosted by the Government of Japan stressed that education
should be carried out in an inclusive and collaborative way by various
stakeholders, through their interactive engagements. On the margin of this First
Committee as well as previous NPT PrepComs, many
governments and NGOs, including Japan, organized a variety of side-events to
increase the awareness on disarmament and non-proliferation. An increase in the number
and quality of side-events each year not only focuses their attention on the
important issues we face, but also provides useful feedback for us all.
Based on our distinct historical background, we believe that we
have a special mission to convey what
actually happened in August 1945 to people around the world, particularly future generations. Along with the “Special
Communicators for a World without Nuclear Weapons” in 2010, Japan launched a new program called “Youth
Communicators for a World without Nuclear
Weapons” in 2013.
So far a total of 58 Youth Communicators have been appointed and globally dispatched.
Under this program, younger generations are expected to share what they have
learned about the tragic consequences caused by atomic bombings and their
thoughts about possible steps to achieve their elimination.
In addition, every year since 1983, Japan has been contributing
to the UN Disarmament Fellowship Program and inviting young diplomats and
government officials to Japan. To date, eight hundred
and eleven fellows from around the world have visited Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
This year, an additional 25 fellows witnessed first-hand realities of the
devastation brought by atomic bombings. We are convinced it was an
eye-opening experience for the fellows and hope those who once visited these
two cities strive for nuclear disarmament in their respective government and
organization.
Mr.
Chairman,
In 1983, Japan installed a permanent exhibition on the atomic
bombings at the UN in New York and more recently, in 2011 in Geneva. We believe
they have contributed considerably to a greater public awareness of the
consequences caused by nuclear weapons and also what is being currently done to
promote nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation. Last year, in this committee, I pointed out
that few people noticed the existence of the New York exhibition since it was
relocated due to reconstruction of the UN building. As it is now understood
that reconstruction will be completed next month, we look forward to the
allocation of appropriate space for the exhibition and to further improve the
quality of the display.
Mr.
Chairman,
Our journey
towards a secure world free of nuclear weapons requires
enduring will and enormous energy from the people on a global scale. Therefore, it is all the more crucial to
foster a broad and deep understanding of the importance of nuclear disarmament
and non-proliferation in the minds and hearts of the people. Believing
in the potential of education, Japan intends to continue to take the lead in
this area and calls on all Member States to join.
Thank you.