Youth Leaders Unite for Nuclear-Free Peaceful Future

The study tour began with an opening ceremony on 26 August in Nagasaki. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who had announced the creation of this Youth Leader Fund initiative in 2022, welcomed the participants through a video message. He emphasized the crucial role that younger generations play in conveying the realities of nuclear weapons use, especially as the world approaches the 80th anniversaries of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

"We hope that this study tour will be an opportunity for all of you, the future leaders of the world, who have gathered from a wide range of countries, including both nuclear and non-nuclear-weapon States, to build a global network for a 'world without nuclear weapons' and to firmly convey the realities of nuclear weapons use to the world," said Prime Minister Kishida.

The Governor of Nagasaki Mr. Kengo Oishi and City Mayor of Nagasaki Mr. Shiro Suzuki also welcomed the participants to Nagasaki. The group of youth participants then visited the Peace Park and the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum. They also had dialogues with atomic bombing survivors and interactions with local youth in Nagasaki.

We visited Nagasaki Atomic Bombing Museum, and we learnt a lot. One of the exhibits that impressed me the most was the wall clock stopping at 11:02, telling us the exact time of the bombing. This museum is a living epitome of the catastrophic consequences of nuclear weapons where I think everyone should visit and learn from." - Suhaib Salman, a national of India, a participant of the Youth Leader Fund for a World without Nuclear Weapons (YLF) programme.

After Nagasaki, the Youth Leader Fund participants moved on to Hiroshima, where they were welcomed by the Governor of Hiroshima Mr. Hidehiko Yuzaki and City Mayor of Hiroshima Mr. Kazumi Matsui at the welcoming ceremony on 28 August.

The programme also included a visit to Hiroshima Peace Park and the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum where the participants also had a chance to directly learn from atomic bombing survivors in Hiroshima.

On 29 August, the participants were joined by local youths from the 2024 UNITAR Hiroshima Youth Ambassador Programme and Hiroshima Peace Volunteer Programme in learning and discussion modules. They exchanged views and experiences and worked on consolidating the action points of the Youth Declaration, while deepening their cross-border network.

This invaluable experience will profoundly impact our long-term efforts in nuclear disarmament advocacy. We are truly humbled by the opportunity to witness Hiroshima's resilience and dedication firsthand-a privilege that remains beyond reach for many young people from our own countries. The insights we've gained and the stories we've heard are not just memories to cherish; they are powerful tools that will enable us to ignite a broader conversation within our communities." - Mashaal Shahnawaz, a national of Pakistan, at the Welcome Ceremony in Hiroshima, representing the YLF participants.

In the afternoon of 29 August, at the hybrid Youth Leader Conference in Hiroshima and online, the Youth Leader Fund representative presented the "DeclarACTION" as an action-oriented youth declaration for a world without nuclear weapons which provided the young leaders' recommendations and commitments in the three pillars: Hibakusha and Community Engagement; Youth Participation in Political and Diplomatic Processes; and Research and Academia. The DeclarACTION showed the commitment of the youth "to guide and enlighten the world toward a future where peace prevails, where the shadow of nuclear devastation is forever banished, and where nuclear warfare is merely a relic of the past, never to be repeated."

The participants also received a video message from Mr. Hirotaka Ishihara, Special Advisor to the Prime Minister of Japan in charge of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, encouraging the participants to share what they saw and felt during the study tour, carry the global network that they gained through the study tour, and continue their efforts towards a world free of nuclear weapons.

At the end of the study tour, Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, Ms. Izumi Nakamitsu shared her encouragement through a video message.

"We are eager to work with you on your creative and innovative initiatives towards a common goal of eliminating nuclear weapons and building a safer, more secure and peaceful world", said Ms. Nakamitsu, at the certificate awards ceremony on 30 August. She emphasized that completing this study programme was not the end of their nuclear disarmament journey, but rather "the beginning of a new chapter in the efforts towards international, national and human security."

Arriving in Hiroshima and Nagasaki was a transformative experience. Over the past days, standing in the Peace Parks, hearing the stories of the Hibakusha-the survivors whose lives have been forever marked by the atomic bombings-was both heartbreaking and inspiring. Their courage in the face of unimaginable suffering reminded us that the call for disarmament is not just a policy discussion; it is a profound humanitarian necessity." - Shukurgeldi Myradov, a national of Turkmenistan, at the Youth Leader Conference, representing YLF participants

By creating opportunities for youth and future leaders in Hiroshima, Nagasaki, and from around the world to engage, learn and discuss peace with each other across national borders, UNITAR - in collaboration with partners - continues to support the realization of a peaceful, prosperous and humane world.