Nuclear Disarmament and Non-Proliferation
Message issued by the International Group of Eminent Persons for a World without Nuclear Weapons
On April 21 2023, the International Group of Eminent Persons for a World without Nuclear Weapons(IGEP) issued a message as to provide an input to the first session of the Preparatory Committee for the NPT Review Conference, which will be held from the end of July this year.
- At the second meeting of the IGEP held on April 4 and 5, the IGEP members concurred that it would be meaningful to compile a concrete message based on the discussions at this meeting as to provide input to the first session of the Preparatory Committee. As a result of the discussions among the IGEP members, the message was issued.
- The government of Japan will continue to promote realistic and practical efforts toward the realization of a world without nuclear weapons, while taking into account the discussions of the IGEP including this message. Furthermore, the government of Japan hopes fruitful outcome as the IGEP continues to discuss toward the 2026 NPT Review Conference.
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Message addressed by the IGEP for a World without Nuclear Weapons
This message is addressed to the international community including Japan. As the international community is facing grave and unprecedented nuclear challenges, it is imperial to transform the current crisis into an opportunity to strengthen the nuclear non-proliferation regime, in particular by upholding and strengthening the NPT regime. The IGEP urges states to prioritize the following basic pillars during the 2026 NPT review cycle which starts from the first session of the Preparatory Committee held from the end of July this year: (1) “reinforcing and expanding norms”, such as prohibition of using or threatening to use nuclear weapons, (2) “taking concrete measures”, such as engaging in dialogue on establishing new arms control arrangements, and (3) “revitalizing and strengthening the NPT review process”.
- Background and Objectives
In January 2022, Prime Minister KISHIDA announced in his Policy Speech to the Diet that the IGEP will serve as an opportunity for participants from nuclear-weapon States and non-nuclear-weapon States, as well as those from countries participating and not participating in the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, to exchange ideas and thoughts beyond their respective national positions and engage in candid discussions concerning a concrete path towards the realization of a world without nuclear weapons. On December 10 and 11 2022, the first IGEP meeting was held in Hiroshima, and Prime Minister KISHIDA attended the second closing session which was held in the afternoon of December 11. - Summary of results
On April 4 and 5, the second meeting of the International Group of Eminent Persons for a World without Nuclear Weapons (IGEP) was held in Tokyo. A total of nine members attended the meeting in person, including Chair SHIRAISHI Takashi, Chancellor of the University of Kumamoto, and two other Japanese members, as well as six foreign members including those from both nuclear-weapon States and non-nuclear-weapon States. In addition, five foreign members participated virtually. - 15 members of the IGEP
Shiraishi Takashi (Chair) Chancellor, Prefectural University of Kumamoto
Angela Kane Former Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs of the United Nations
Rose Gottemoeller Former U.S. Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Affairs
Takamizawa Nobushige Visiting Professor, Graduate School of Public Policy, the University of Tokyo
George Perkovich Vice President for Studies at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
Gustavo Zlauvinen President of the 10th NPT Review Conference
Ian Anthony Programme Director, European Security, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, SIPRI
Bruno Tertrais Deputy Director, Foundation for Strategic Research (note: participated in the first meeting online)
Dina Kawar Ambassador of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan to the United States
Raden Mohammad Marty
Muliana Natalegawa Former Minister for Foreign Affairs of Indonesia (note: participated in the first meeting through a video message)
Manpreet Sethi Distinguished Fellow, Centre for Air Power Studies
Akiyama Nobumasa Dean, School of International and Public Policy, Hitotsubashi University
Tanya Ogilvie-White Research Director, Asia-Pacific Leadership Network for Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament
Anton Khlopkov Director of Center for Energy and Security Studies (CENESS)
Tong Zhao Senior Fellow, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace; Visiting Research Scholar, Princeton University