Cities' Leaders Embrace "Nagasaki Declaration"
Nagasaki Appeal: Global Commitment to Abolish Nuclear Weapons
The 11th General Conference of Mayors for Peace was held in Nagasaki, Japan on August 10, 2025, bringing together representatives from 138 cities in 16 countries. The conference resulted in the adoption of the "Nagasaki Appeal" declaration, a firm commitment to abolish nuclear weapons globally.
The conference in Nagasaki holds historical significance, as it was the site where an atomic bomb was dropped by the United States three days after the Hiroshima bombing in August 1945. This tragic event serves as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of nuclear warfare, and the earnest desire of atomic bomb survivors to make Nagasaki the last city to suffer such a tragedy.
The "Nagasaki Appeal" declaration includes several key points. It strongly urges all signatories to the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) to fulfill their treaty obligations through concrete steps. It also calls for every country to sign and ratify the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, reinforcing the legal framework to eliminate nuclear arms.
The declaration highlights the role of cities as close to their citizens, actively appealing for peace and mobilizing citizens toward nuclear disarmament. It also emphasizes making Nagasaki the last city to suffer atomic bombing, reflecting the experiences of atomic bomb survivors.
Discussions were held at the conference on activities to be carried out until the next general meeting in Hiroshima in 2029. These interim activities and cooperation among member cities are aimed at continuing to advance the goals of nuclear disarmament and world peace.
In addition to the "Nagasaki Appeal", a separate Nagasaki Peace Declaration was issued, expressing specific demands such as Japan signing and ratifying the Prohibition Treaty urgently, revising security policies away from reliance on nuclear deterrence, enhancing aid for atomic bomb survivors, and strengthening efforts to keep the memory of the bombing alive as a universal human heritage to promote everlasting world peace.
In summary, the Nagasaki Appeal underscores concrete nuclear disarmament measures, legal treaty commitments, survivor support, and citizen-led peace advocacy, aiming to ensure Nagasaki remains the last atomic bombing site and to advance toward a world free of nuclear weapons. The next General Conference of Mayors for Peace will be held in Hiroshima in 2029, continuing the global effort towards a nuclear-free world. Nagasaki Mayor, Shiro Suzuki, expressed gratitude for the shared earnest desire of atomic bomb survivors to make Nagasaki the last place to suffer an atomic bombing.
- Cognizant of the historicalimportance of Nagasaki, the conference called for an increase in general news coverage about war-and-conflicts and the ongoing efforts in policy-and-legislation to abolish nuclear weapons, advocating for a robust political dialogue to achieve this goal.
- To foster a sustainable impact, cities are encouraged to implement photographic depictions of the effects of nuclear warfare in public spaces, serving as reminders of the catastrophic consequences and the necessity of nuclear disarmament, thereby reinforcing the message of the "Nagasaki Appeal".
