Youth Dialogue Event for Global Peace
“Dialogue with World Leaders and Future Makers Towards a World Without Nuclear Weapons”
(report from a person involved)
the panelists and audience
On August 6, 2024, 79 years after the atomic bombing, the Peace Memorial Ceremony took place at Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park with about 50,000 attendees, including representatives from 109 countries, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, hibakusha, and bereaved families. That afternoon, the Hiroshima Prefectural Government, the Hiroshima Organization for Global Peace (HOPe), and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) held “Dialogue with World Leaders and Future Makers Towards a World Without Nuclear Weapons” for the realization of a nuclear-weapon-free world. The event took place at the Edion Peace Wing Hiroshima, a soccer-only stadium that opened in February of that year.
“Peace Wing” represents the wish for a permanent peace and a flight toward a bright future with hopes and dreams. Its concept of peace made the stadium a fitting venue for the event.
Edion Peace Wing Hiroshima
Panel Discussion
Consisting of a panel discussion and a Q&A session with the attendees, the event was moderated by Mr. Nikhil Seth (UN Assistant Secretary-General and UNITAR Executive Director). Five panelists took the stage: Ms. Izumi Nakamitsu (UN Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs), Ms. Shorna-Kay M. Richards (Ambassador of Jamaica to Japan), Mr. Hidehiko Yuzaki (Governor of Hiroshima Prefecture and President of HOPe), Ms. Miho Tanaka (Co-representative of Kakuwaka Hiroshima), and Mr. Franco Escobar (representing the participants of the "Youth Leader Fund for a World without Nuclear Weapons" program).
At the venue, there were attendees in their teens and twenties, including Japanese and international students, mainly from Hiroshima and also from Kyoto and Tokyo. The live streaming of the event was viewed by participants of the "Youth Leader Fund for a World without Nuclear Weapons" program from around the world.
During the panel discussion, UN Under-Secretary-General Nakamitsu, Ambassador Richards, and Governor Yuzaki gave presentations on the theme of the youth activities they focused on and the impacts of the activities.
Ms. Isumi Nakamitsu, UN Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs
UN Under-Secretary-General Nakamitsu introduced a number of UN-run programs that give young leaders the opportunity to discuss disarmament frameworks and learn from each other. She pointed out the importance of understanding that there are different views and ways of thinking from various perspectives, and encouraged the audience by saying that young people need to study and think, from the perspectives of idealism as well as realism, how to build a nuclear-weapon-free world with everyone’s security guaranteed.
Ms. Shorna-Kay M. Richards, Ambassador of Jamaica to Japan
Ambassador Richards shared her interaction with hibakusha in Hiroshima 19 years ago, which led her to become involved in disarmament and non-proliferation education and youth empowerment. She also talked about the various lectures and workshops she was involved in. Ambassador Richards said, "Advocacy is hard work, but despite the challenges, it is important to have fun,” and encouraged young activists to take the baton from hibakusha and pass it on to the next generation with courage, have hope, never give up the fight, and do their part where they are placed.
Mr. Hidehiko Yuzaki, Governor of Hiroshima Prefecture/ President of HOPe
Governor Yuzaki introduced HOPe’s human resource development program for youth and the achievements of participants who completed the program. He stressed the importance of taking action by saying that it is important how much commitment you can make to what you believe, and how much you act on it. Governor Yuzaki insisted that more young people need to be engaged in the issue of nuclear weapons and that after the COVID pandemic, young people are now able to unite and stand up against large organizations, and asked the young audience to work together to tackle the issue.
After the panel discussion, Ms. Tanaka and Mr. Escobar introduced the peace-related initiatives they were currently working on, and UN Under-Secretary-General Nakamitsu, Ambassador Richards, and Governor Yuzaki gave the two younger panelists advice about ideas for improving their activities.
Ms. Miho Tanaka, Co-representative of Kakuwaka Hiroshima
As Co-representative of Kakuwaka Hiroshima, Ms. Tanaka introduced its activities. It was her encounter with hibakusha and activists from the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) that led her to co-found the organization. One of the reasons she thinks youth should be engaged in the areas of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation is that if nuclear weapons were used, the consequences on young people would be greater. “I don’t want to leave our responsibility to the younger generation,” Ms. Tanaka said, and mentioned her generation’s need to think about what they can do to fulfill their responsibilities and what they can pass on to the younger generations, thereby expressing her determination to continue her activities.
Mr. Franco Escobar, representing the participants of the "Youth Leader Fund for a World without Nuclear Weapons" program
Mr. Escobar introduced his research on youth involvement in the nuclear disarmament movement. He said that fewer young people in the world are working on the issue of nuclear weapons than before because currently they give higher priority to and are more concerned about other issues such as climate change. Mr. Escobar insisted that there are things young people can do that adults can't. He reminded the audience that “History is full of young people who have changed the world,” and called for further efforts on the issue of nuclear weapons on behalf of the participants of the "Youth Leader Fund for a World without Nuclear Weapons" program.
Questions from attendees
Even after the event ended, there was no letup in the enthusiasm in the venue, with young attendees eagerly asking questions of the panelists and taking souvenir photos. It must have been a valuable experience for the young audience to have attended the event, where active world leaders in the field of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation spoke about their passion for their work and sent messages directly to the next-generation leaders. Hopefully, the experience they gained from this event will inspire them to take on various challenges in the future, and thereby contribute to the realization of a peaceful world free of nuclear weapons.
Note: “Dialogue with World Leaders and Future Makers Towards a World Without Nuclear Weapons” can be viewed on YouTube.
Watch the Japanese version here!
Watch the English version here!
We are currently planning the 2025 Youth Dialogue Evant. Further details will be updated on this page as they become available. Please stay tuned for more information.
