Japanese hibakusha group brands nuclear weapons 'absolute evil' at UN victim summit

The United Nations convened its inaugural International Meeting on Victim Assistance and Environmental Remediation in New York, bringing together civil-society representatives impacted by nuclear weapons. Masako Wada, deputy secretary general of the Nobel-peace-prize-winning Nihon Hidankyo and a survivor of the Nagasaki bombing, described nuclear arms as "absolute evil" and urged the world to prevent the emergence of new hibakusha.

She recounted her mother's suffering and the post-war neglect that left many survivors unaware of the causes of their ailments. Japan's deputy ambassador to the UN, Shigeru Umetsu, said Japan is using its experience to support victims of nuclear testing and to promote accurate understanding as a foundation for disarmament. The session took place a day after the General Assembly marked the International Day against Nuclear Tests, where UN disarmament chief Izumi Nakamitsu warned that the world must never witness another nuclear explosion. Delegates also noted the 30-year anniversary of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, which remains unsigned by nine states.