• UNITAR partners with the Japan Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (JANA) to host a public event on nuclear disarmament at the University of the Sacred Heart, Tokyo, on 9 February 2025
• The public session invites international experts on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, including Mr. Tariq Rauf, former Head of Verification and Security Policy, IAEA
• The discussion will touch on topics such as multilateral security challenges and diplomacy, prospects for the 2026 NPT review and the latest trends and efforts of the Secretary-General and UN Member States to try to advance nuclear disarmament
• After the public session, a virtual reality (VR) experience to convey the realities of the atomic bombing will be held in collaboration with Fujita Corporation and Tabimachi-gate Hiroshima Co., Ltd. for in person participants
• In person attendance of the public forum requires prior registration and ticket purchase. Livestreaming is available for Part I, free of charge

22 January 2025, Hiroshima, Japan – As part of the “International Civil Society Forum to Abolish Nuclear Weapons: 80 Years Since the Atomic Bombing,” UNITAR partners with the Japan Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (JANA) to host a public event on 9 February 2025. The event will be conducted at the University of the Sacred Heart, Tokyo, in English and Japanese. Prior registration and ticket purchase are necessary for in person attendance. Livestreaming is available for Part I and is free of charge.

PART I: Public Session (9:30 – 11:00, at Miyashiro Hall)

Recent UN Trends on Nuclear Disarmament Issues

The public session invites four international experts in the area of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, including UNITAR training advisors such as Mr. Tariq Rauf, former Head of Verification and Security Policy, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), for a discussion on tasks relating to nuclear disarmament. In specific, the discussion will touch on multilateral security challenges and diplomacy, prospects for the 2026 NPT review conference and its third Preparatory Committee session in 2025, and the latest trends and efforts of the Secretary-General and UN Member States to try to advance nuclear disarmament. This public session aims to enhance the knowledge of attendees—including students, youth, and civil activists—about UN actions related to nuclear disarmament and to raise awareness of global trends in the nuclear disarmament debate. The session is designed to be interactive and includes time for open questions.

PART II: Exhibition Room (11:00 – 12:15, at 218 Room)

Experiencing the Impacts of Atomic Bombing Through Virtual Reality (VR)

UNITAR established its Hiroshima Office in 2003 in the city of peace, serving as the only international organization in the Chugoku and Shikoku area, and has been conducting training programmes to promote nuclear disarmament and peacebuilding. These efforts include inviting participants from conflict-affected countries such as Afghanistan and Iraq, sharing Hiroshima’s catastrophic experiences of the atomic bombing and its recovery. As part of these initiatives, UNITAR provides a virtual reality (VR) experience to convey the realities of the atomic bombing more accurately. At the Tokyo venue, in collaboration with Fujita Corporation and Tabimachi-gate Hiroshima Co., Ltd, UNITAR offers an immersive experience of atomic bombing and a chance to reflect on the importance of nuclear disarmament.

Event Details

• Location: University of the Sacred Heart, Tokyo / Virtual
• Language: English and Japanese (simultaneous interpretation available for Part I)
• Modality: In-person (Part I will be livestreamed)
• Targeted audience: General public (The venue accommodates up to 100 people)
• Registration and fee: In-person attendance requires ticket purchase in advance. Please register from the event website below:
  https://nuclearabolitionforum2025.peatix.com/
• Livestreaming will be available on the event website, free of charge:
  https://2025forum.nuclearabolitionjpn.com/
• Media can enter the forum free of charge with prior registration through the link below:
  https://2025forum.nuclearabolitionjpn.com/news/184/

List of Speakers

• Mr. Tariq Rauf, Former Head of Verification and Security Policy, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
• Mr. Tim Caughley, a Non-Resident Senior Fellow for the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR)
• Mr. Yuriy Kryvonos, a Former Director, United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific (UNRCPD)
• Ms. Junko Horibe, Associate Professor, Nagoya University of Foreign Studies
• Ms. Chisa Mikami, Head of Hiroshima Office, Division for Prosperity, UNITAR

Agenda

9:30 – 9:40: Opening remarks, Introduction of UNITAR, Introduction of panel members – Chisa Mikami

9:40 – 10:10 – The role of the UN disarmament organizations (UNODA and UNRCPD) – Yuriy Kryvonos

– Multilateral Nuclear Arms Control Diplomacy – Tim Caughley

– Nuclear Security and Control – Junko Horibe

– Overview of Global Nuclear Disarmament and Non-Proliferation, Non-Proliferation Treaty and Review Process, focusing on the 2026 NPT – Tariq Rauf

10:10 – 10:50 Q&A

10:50 – 10:55 Closing – Chisa Mikami

11:00 – 11:10 Move to the Exhibition Room

11:10 – 11:15 – Introduction of the UNITAR training programmes – Chisa Mikami

– Introduction of VR camera – Tabimachi-Gate Hiroshima

11:15 – 12:15 VR camera experience (5 minutes per person)

Background

The year 2025 marks the 80th commemoration of the tragic atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Unfortunately, even today, armed conflicts continue to pose risks and take the lives of innocent people. The current state of the world is far from achieving sustainable peace. In light of this, nuclear disarmament remains one of the United Nations’ top priorities. It is important to maintain dialogues to promote global peace and to ensure that armed conflicts are not considered viable solutions for resolving disputes.

UNITAR Hiroshima Office, the only United Nations office based in the city of peace, Hiroshima, has been addressing issues related to nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation in close collaboration with local partners in Hiroshima. Since 2015, the office has conducted the Hiroshima Nuclear Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Training, targeting diplomats from Asia-Pacific countries who actively participate in international forums, such as meetings on the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). The training has focused on developing negotiation skills essential for treaty implementation and drafting outcome documents for such meetings, empowering over 180 participants. This year marks the 10th iteration of the training, bringing 15 diplomats from 14 Asia-Pacific countries to Hiroshima and Tokyo from 3 to 8 February 2025.

About UNITAR

The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) is a dedicated training arm of the United Nations. In 2023, UNITAR trained over 540,000 learners around the world to support their actions for a better future. UNITAR has a global presence, with offices in Geneva, Hiroshima, New York and Bonn, as well as networks around the world. Find out more at https://www.unitar.org/