By: Organizing Committee of the World Conference against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs
The Organizing Committee of the World Conference against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs calls on peace organizations and civil society movements worldwide to take action ahead of the first Review Conference of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), scheduled for November 30 to December 4.
At the World Conference, approximately 70 overseas delegates reaffirmed the importance of sharing the experiences of the Hibakusha and the realities of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, 81 years after the attacks. Participants also emphasized the need for a coordinated global campaign urging governments to join the TPNW.
November 30: The “Empty Chair”
The initiative calls for placing an empty chair in front of parliaments or embassies to protest governments’ failure to join the treaty or participate in the conference on November 30, the opening day of the Review Conference.
By organizing the action simultaneously across countries, peace movements can create a global “Peace Wave” demanding nuclear disarmament.
The Japanese anti-nuclear weapons movement has welcomed the proposal and is preparing an action in front of Japan’s National Diet. Additional activities planned for the months leading up to the conference include street-based signature collection, a Nuclear Abolition Day action on September 26, and the submission of signatures to the Japanese government.
A Global Call for Solidarity
The Organizing Committee encourages peace organizations worldwide to develop action plans, share information, and coordinate joint initiatives ahead of the Review Conference.
Through public demonstrations, signature campaigns, and international solidarity, the global movement can strengthen pressure on governments to join the TPNW and advance the abolition of nuclear weapons.
Peace movements worldwide are invited to join the November 30 “Empty Chair” Peace Wave and help build momentum towards a world free of nuclear weapons.
