A new organization established in Japan to realize a world without nuclear weapons says it will aim to achieve the country's ratification of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons by 2030.
Japan Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, set up earlier this month, held an event in Tokyo on Saturday to mark its launch. It is made up of more than 20 groups as well as individuals, including atomic bomb survivors and young people.
Tanaka Terumi, co-chairperson of the Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations, or Nihon Hidankyo, serves as the head of the new organization. In a video message he urged the Japanese government to ratify the nuclear ban treaty and take the lead in efforts to abolish nuclear arms.
Tanaka also called on people to do their utmost to move the government.
Kawasaki Akira of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, or ICAN, is a senior member of the Japanese organization. ICAN won the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize.
Kawasaki said the Japanese organization's activities will include engaging with government officials and members of the Diet so that Japan will ratify the nuclear ban treaty by 2030 at the latest.
He also said the organization will hold public events and visit businesses to boost momentum for nuclear arms abolition, and plans to hold an international conference of citizens next year to discuss the inhumane nature of nuclear weapons.
Wada Masako serves as deputy head of the organization. She is an assistant secretary general of Nihon Hidankyo.
Wada said that there were times when atomic bomb survivors alone could not send out sufficient messages. She added that she believes cooperation between the groups will be a major force toward the abolition of nuclear weapons.