Dear friends,

We are pleased to inform you that the World Conference against A and H Bombs (online), held on August 2-9, 2020, made a big success. We express our heartfelt gratitude to you for your support and participation in the Conference marking the 75th year of Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bombings.

The 2020 World Conference against A and H Bombs Organizers Statement.pdf

The 2020 World Conference against A and H Bombs Letter from Nagasaki to All Governments.pdf

The Conference this year was held online for the first time in its history, and had the participation as in the following:  International Meeting of August 2 – 350 Zoom participants and 933 through YouTube Livestreaming; Hiroshima Day Rally of August 6 – 549 on Zoom and 3146 on YouTube; Nagasaki Day Rally of August 9 – 440 on Zoom and 1643 on YouTube; and the 4 Special Sessions – 453 on Zoom and 699 on YouTube. Altogether 8213 people (1792 on Zoom and 6421 on YouTube)  joined the World Conference .

We could have active discussion in the 4 special sessions on: “Solidarity with the Hibakusha and Agent Orange/dioxin victims”; “Solidarity with Okinawa and dismantling of foreign military bases”; “A nuclear weapon-free, peaceful Northeast Asia and the role of peace movements”; and “Supporting the Hibakusha, inheriting and disseminating their stories.” The World Conference also had associated events held by women’s groups, youths and scientists.  They had as many participants as the theme-based sessions held in person in the past. The success of these events showed that despite the COVID-19 pandemic, it was possible for us to maintain our strength and build new expansion and development of the movement by our own efforts.

As shown by its theme, “With the Hibakusha, Let Us Achieve a Nuclear Weapon-free, Peaceful and Just World – for the Future of the Humankind and Our Planet,” the aim of the Conference was, among others, to have people of Japan and the rest of the world listen to the testimonies of the Hibakusha and take ownership of their warning: “The humankind cannot coexist with nuclear weapons.”

We also aimed to encourage civil society to learn the effort made by the frontline of international politics, including the United Nations, for the prohibition and elimination of nuclear weapons, peace and security, and develop an understanding of and mobilize people to the work for achieving a world without nuclear weapons from the grass roots, to strengthen cooperation with diverse and broad range of movements to protect the human race and the planet, and to increase the participation of young people, bearers of the future, in the movement.

Your speeches and contributions greatly helped all the participants and audience in Japan and the rest of the world deepen their knowledge and understanding of the issues and renew their commitment to work for the abolition of nuclear weapons.

In parallel with the World Conference, the “Peace Wave” international joint action, organized on August 6-9, achieved a resounding success. Making the elimination of nuclear weapons as the common goal and the “International Signature Campaign in Support of the Appeal of the Hibakusha” as the common form of action, numerous activities with creativity and diversity were carried out both online and in person in more than 24 countries across the world and in major cities of all the 47 prefectures of Japan,

Now we are working to compile all the statements/speeches and produce the record of the Conference so that they can be shared and learned widely as a tool to empower people to strengthen the movement. As mentioned in the Organizer’s Statement issued in the Conference, we are determined to build on the success of it to promote cooperation of a wider-range of movements/individuals/national and local governments and create more powerful public support for the abolition of nuclear weapons towards the 75th session of the UN General Assembly, the next NPT Review Conference and entry into force of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.

We once again thank you all for your great contribution to the success of the 2020 World Conference against A and H Bombs.  Please accept our very best wishes in your future endeavors.

Very truly yours,

For  the Organizing Committee

Hiroshi Taka

Co-Chair, the Steering Committee, Organizing Committee of the World Conference