UNITAR Shares Peace Message as Hiroshima Remembers 70th Anniversary of the Atomic Bombing

6 August 2015, Hiroshima, Japan – Hiroshima marked the 70th year since the Atomic Bomb was dropped on the city. The remembrance ceremony was held in the Peace Memorial Park with representatives from over 100 countries, and over 55,000 people. The programme included the Peace Declaration by the Mayor of Hiroshima, Mr Kazumi Matsui, an address by the Prime Minister of Japan, Mr Shinzo Abe, as well as a message from the Secretary General of the United Nations, delivered by Under Secretary-General and Acting High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, Mr Kim Won-Soo. 

The ceremony and a number of peace-related events were attended throughout the day by the UNITAR Hiroshima Office staff. The office also provided support to Mr Kim Won-Soo during his visit, including for his meeting with the Mayor of Hiroshima.

The UNITAR Youth Ambassadors participated, sharing their messages of peace at the Youth Peace Conference – “Sharing the Spirit of Hiroshima with the World” – held at the Hiroshima International Conference Centre.

The Hiroshima Office, in partnership with UNRCPD and UNIDIR, facilitated the UNITAR Hiroshima Training Programme on Nuclear Disarmament and Non-Proliferation for South East Asia in Hiroshima in June. Held in Hiroshima, the location of the programme was significant as the city’s experience of the atomic bomb emphasised the importance of the issues.

Hiroshima will also host the 25th UN-Japan Conference on Disarmament Issues between 26 and 28 August.

Photo 1: UN Under Secretary General Kim Won-Soo meets with the Mayor of Hiroshima, Mr Kazumi Matsui.

Photo 2: The UNITAR Youth Ambassadors deliver their messages of peace at the Youth Peace Conference.