1. RENGO welcomes the Treaty on Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) coming into force.
On October 24, the TPNW finally met its requirement to enter into force with the 50th ratification made by Honduras, a Central American nation. The treaty will enter into force 90 days later, on January 22, 2021. 75 years have passed since the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, but the nuclear weapons related matters have become increasingly complex and uncertain. Against this background, we should seriously take this treaty’s enforcement as a result of the strong will of the non-nuclear weapon states and other countries of the world to abolish nuclear weapons. RENGO welcomes the TPNW coming into force as we have been calling for the abolition of all nuclear weapons.
2. This is a sign of the international community’s growing concern about nuclear weapons.
Many of nuclear weapons states and those that rely on the “Nuclear Umbrella” of the United States are opposed to this treaty. However, this treaty was adopted in July 2017 by a majority of 122 countries and territories, more than 60% of the UN member states, with the expectation that it will serve as an international norm defining nuclear weapons as “inhumane” and provide pressure to promote stalled nuclear disarmament. The treaty coming into force is a sign of the international community’s growing concern about nuclear weapons.
3. The Japanese government should fulfill its role and responsibility as the only country atomic bombed in war.
The Japanese government opposes this treaty on the grounds that it will “deepen the division of the international society” and has not ratified it. Japan, as the only country has suffered from atomic bomb in war, has an important role and responsibility to play, and it must not turn a blind eye to the international momentum for nuclear weapon abolition. As a bridge between the nuclear weapon states and non-nuclear weapon state, the Japanese government must not block the path to the ratification and must offer information and make diplomatic efforts to build a consensus for the abolition of nuclear weapons. In particular, the importance of the next Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) is increasing, and we strongly urge the Japanese government to make effective efforts to put pressure on the nuclear deterrence capability of the nuclear weapons states.
4. RENGO continues to promote its actions for the abolition of nuclear weapons.
RENGO has been promoting campaign for “the realisation of world lasting peace through the abolition of nuclear weapons”. The Peace Action in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, which is held every August in the atomic bombed cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. “10 Million Signatures for the Abolition of Nuclear Weapons” campaign has also been conducted in cooperation with GENSUIKIN and KAKKIN in preparation for the NPT Review Conference. We will continue to utilise every opportunity to call for united action for the abolition of nuclear weapons and to arouse broad public opinion together with the international society.
Yasunobu AIHARA, General Secretary
Japanese Trade Union Confederation (RENGO)