Disarmament and Non-Proliferation, Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Technology

August 26, 2024
Japanese

Since August 26, 50 members of the first cohort of the “Youth Leader Fund for a World Without Nuclear Weapons” have been participating in a one-week Japan Visit Programme (Study Tour to Hiroshima and Nagasaki). On August 26, the opening ceremony was held in Nagasaki under the auspices of the United Nation (UN). Prime Minister Kishida announced the launch of the Fund in his speech at the 10th Review Conference of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) in August 2022, and the Japanese Government has contributed 10 million US dollars (1.08 billion Japanese yen) to the UN.

  1. At the Opening Ceremony, Prime Minister Kishida delivered a video message. Its summary is as follows:
    1. I would like to congratulate all the participants selected for this study tour and thank all those who worked so hard to make the tour possible. Hailing from Hiroshima, nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation is my lifelong mission, which has become an increasingly important issue for the future of humanity under the current severe international situation. As the starting point for all efforts toward this goal, it is important to convey the realities of nuclear weapons use to the world.
    2. Next year will mark the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. As the Hibakusha are aging, the role of the younger generation, such as yourselves, is becoming even more important in conveying the realities of nuclear weapons use to the world. Through this visit to Nagasaki and Hiroshima, I hope that you will directly experience the realities of nuclear weapons use with your own eyes and ears, deepen your understanding, and engage in lively discussions toward a "world without nuclear weapons" as future leaders of the world.
    3. We hope that this study tour will be an opportunity for all of you, the future leaders of the world, who have gathered from a wide range of countries, including both nuclear and non-nuclear-weapon States, to build a global network for a "world without nuclear weapons" and to firmly convey the realities of nuclear weapons use to the world.
  2. 100 members of the first cohort of the programme have participated in an online training programme for about three months after the launch event of the learning programme held online by the UN in December last year. From these 100 members, 50 were selected by the UN to participate in the Japan Visit Programme. The participants are youths between the ages of 18 and 29 from about 40 countries, including both nuclear and non-nuclear-weapon States.
  3. Prime Minister Kishida's video message can be accessed on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ YouTube channel below.
    Prime Minister Kishida's video message (YouTube) Open a New Window
(Reference1)Appendix (PDF)

Video message by Prime Minister Kishida (Japanese (PDF) Open a New Window / English (PDF) Open a New Window)

(Reference2) Summary of the Programme of “Youth Leader Fund for a World Without Nuclear Weapons”
  1. This Fund was announced by Prime Minister KISHIDA Fumio at the 10th Review Conference of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) in August 2022 as a pillar of the “Hiroshima Action Plan”. In his speech, the Prime Minister announced Japan’s intention to contribute ten million US dollars towards the UN to establish this new initiative.
  2. The programme will start in 2023 and culminate in 2030 – a year marked by the 85th year from the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings and the 60th anniversary of the entry into force of the NPT. Over the course of two years, the selected participants will receive training in general principles of nuclear disarmament, non-proliferation, and arms control through online courses, with a selected cohort going on a week-long in-person study tour to Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
    Upon completion of the programme, the alumni will play a key role in training and mentoring the next cohort of interested young nuclear disarmament advocates.
    Following the 2023 – 2024 inaugural training programme under the Youth Leader Fund, three more rounds of similar trainings will be conducted, consolidating a worldwide network of talented future leaders with the shared goal towards the elimination of nuclear weapons.

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