On July 28, 2015, the Hiroshima University Institute for Peace Science hosted the 1st International symposium 2015, “Efforts for global peace and potential of the civil society: the review of International pursuits towards the ultimate abolition of nuclear weapons in the last 70 years and the path to the future”.



We were honored to invite former Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand, Mr. Surakiart Sathirathai. He gave the keynote speech about “Challenges for World Peace and role of Hiroshima”.

President Ochi giving the opening remarks	Keynote speech by former Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand Mr. Surakiart Sathirathai

The symposium was separated into two sessions. The theme of the first session was “Past endeavors for the abolition of nuclear weapon”. There was a lively discussion between Chief Monitor of OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine, Ambassador Ertuğrul Apakan, author of Japan World Trend and former Ambassador of Japan to Uzbekistan and Tajikstan, Mr. Akio Kawato, Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Disarmament, Non-Proliferation and Science Department Deputy Director-General Yoshitoshi Nakamura, and Institute for Peace Science Associate Professor Shinsuke Tomotsugu.



The theme of the second session was “The potential of the civil society and the prospect for the global peace”. There was a discussion between Japan Society President Motoatsu Sakurai, Showa Women’s University President Mariko Bando, Stimson Center Vice President Brian Finlay, and Toyo University Professor Katsuyuki Yakushiji.

Ambassador Apakan giving an opinion in the first session	Lively discussion of the second session
Group photograph	Closing remarks by Institute for Peace Science Director Nishida

Participants of the symposium said, “These discussions are not provided by the television news and media, so it was very meaningful to listen to speakers that are playing an active part in the front line of the global community” “I felt global peace and prevention of dispute is crucial to make progress in nuclear disarmament. Civil society can make a big contribution to fight against it”. To convey Hiroshima’s message of peace to the world, Hiroshima University Institute of Peace Science will continue to host symposiums to disseminate information and research findings relating to peace science.

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