Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) and People’s Campaigns

Date and Time: April 16 (Fri) 17:00-19:00 JST

16:00-18:00 Philippines | 15:00-17:00 Vietnam/Southeast Asia |

10:00-12:00 Europe

English-Japanese simultaneous interpretation provided.

If you wish to join this webinar, please email to or so that we will send you the zoom link.

Concept:

In Europe, there are nuclear armed states; the US nuclear weapons and missile defense system are deployed to NATO member states, confronting with Russia. Asia-Pacific is also surrounded by nuclear weapon states such as China, Russia and the US. It also has India, Pakistan and North Korea. The current geopolitical developments, including US-China hegemonistic rivalries and increasing military tension involving US allies and deadlock of denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, have further deepened the danger of Asia.

The abolition of nuclear weapons is essential for ensuring peace and security in Asia and Europe. Only their total elimination can bring security.

Inviting Ambassador Thomas Hajnoczi of Austria who played a leading role in the adoption of the TPNW in the UN negotiation conference in 2017 and is one of core members in preparing for the first meeting of state parties to the TPNW to be planned in January 2021, we will hold a webinar, in which we will learn the TPNW itself, the significance of its entry into force and discuss what campaigns/actions we should take as a next step to achieve a world without nuclear weapons and ensure peace and security in Asia and Europe. This time, we focus on campaigns in nuclear possessing countries and nuclear umbrella states.

Program:

Moderators: Dong Huy Cuong (Vietnam), Corazon Fabros (Philippines)

Part I:

Lecture about TPNW  Mr. Thomas Hajnoczi, Ambassador, Austria

Q&A, Discussion

Part II:

Focusing on the movements of nuclear weapon states and nuclear umbrella states-Situation of these countries over the TPNW & Proposals on the next step campaigns/actions

Each speaker – 5 minutes:

１）Yayoi Tsuchida, Japan

２）Kim Jinyoung, Korea

３）Achin Vanaik, India

４）Ludo de Brabander, Belgium

５）Lisa Clark, Italy

Discussion, Speeches from the floor

Closing Remarks by Corazon

Speakers’ Profiles:

Thomas Hajnoczi (Austria)

Ambassador Thomas Hajnoczi was Director for Disarmament, Arms Control and Non-Proliferation in the Austrian Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs. He was closely involved in drafting the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Treaty and more recently in bringing about the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. This reflects his particular interest in humanitarian disarmament and cooperation with civil society. Recently retired, he continues his engagement for humanitarian disarmament and is advising Mayors for Peace.

Kim Jinyoung (Korea)

Kim Jinyoung is a full-time organizer at the People’s Solidarity for Social Progress (PSSP), and in charge of anti-nuclear/peace activities and international solidarity projects. PSSP seeks Marxist alternatives amid the structural crisis of capitalism. It aims to make innovations in the labor movement, and build social movements for women’s rights and peace and denuclearization in the Korean Peninsula and East Asia.

Achin Vanaik (India)

Achin Vanaik is a retired Professor of “International Relations and Global Politics” from Delhi University. Among his various books are studies on India’s foreign policy and on regional and global nuclear disarmament. He is a founder-member of the Coalition for Nuclear Disarmament and Peace (CNDP), India; a Fellow of the Transnational Institute (TNI), Amsterdam; and was co-recipient of the Sean MacBride International Peace Prize for the year 2000.

Ludo de Brabander (Belgium)

Ludo De Brabander is a Belgian peace activist and spokesman for the organization Vrede vzw. He is a member of the international coordination committee of No to War – No to Nato. He was one of the main organizers of the two last NATO counter summits in Brussels (May 2017 and July 2018). He is author of several books on NATO, militarization, the Middle East and the Kurdish issue.

Lisa Clark (Italy)

Lisa Clark is Co-President of International Peace Bureau (IPB), and active member of Blessed Are the Peacemakers. She lived in Sarajevo under siege (1993-1995), fostering networks of solidarity and supporting non-violent groups. Recently, her activism has concentrated on nuclear disarmament. She coordinated the Italian campaign ‘For a Future Without Nuclear Weapons’, which submitted draft legislation to the Italian Parliament aimed at declaring Italy a nuclear-weapon free State. Since 2016 she is active within the Italian ICAN partner campaign.

Yayoi Tsuchida (Japan)

Yayoi Tsuchida is assistant general secretary of Japan Council against A and H Bombs (Gensuikyo) in charge of international relations. She was vice president of IPB. She has taken part in and spoken at the NPT conferences and the UN conferences on the TPNW. She is now promoting the TPNW campaign in and out of Japan for a nuclear weapon-free peaceful world and peace and security of Asia.

Japan Council against A and H Bombs (Gensuikyo)

2-4-4 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8464 Japan  E-mail:

Tel: 81-3-5842-6034 Fax: 81-3-5842-6033  Web Site: http://www.antiatom.org