North Asia Regional Conference北アジア地域会議

2016年2月28日

人類最初の原子爆弾が広島と長崎に投下されてから７０年を経過しました。この節目にあたり、核戦争防止国際医師会議（IPPNW）北アジア地域と放射線被曝者医療国際協力推進協議会（HICARE）は、２０１６年２月２７－２８日、広島県医師会館において、合同で国際シンポジウムを開催しました。

これまで原爆被爆者たちは、世界各地で被爆体験を証言するとともに、「核兵器なき世界」を訴え続けています。広島・長崎の医師たちは被爆者の医療に当たるとともに、被爆の健康影響に関する知識を世界に普及させるよう努めてきました。さらに原爆被爆者の医療経験と放射線の健康影響に関する研究成果を、世界の放射線被ばく者の医療に有効に活かす体制を構築し、国際協力の推進に役立ててきました。目覚ましい発展を遂げている放射線医学・医療も、長年にわたる被ばく者の医療・検診・調査などに基づいて、放射線の健康影響に関わる研究が行われてきた成果なくしては考えられません。

「核兵器による悲惨を被るのは私たちを最後にしてください」というのが、平均年齢80歳を超える被爆者の願いです。第二次世界大戦後、核兵器の使用が幾度も検討され、核ミサイル発射の誤情報や核兵器事故も繰り返されてきましたが、幸いにも人々の頭上での核爆発は避けられました。現在では核兵器保有国でさえも「核兵器の非人道性」に公然と反対はできなくなりました。

しかし世界には、なお、15,000発を超える核兵器があります。核不拡散条約（NPT）第6条の「完全な核軍縮」の履行に向けて核兵器国が段階的核兵器削減を主張し続けている間に、実質的な核兵器保有国が増えました。包括的核実験禁止条約（CTBT）はいまだ発効していませんし、兵器用核分裂物質生産禁止条約（FMCT）は条約制定のための交渉方法さえも合意されていません。北東アジア非核兵器地帯条約と中東非大量破壊兵器地帯条約は、交渉の場も設定されておらず、両地域の安全保障に関わる状況は厳しさを増しています。「核兵器禁止条約」が提案されているものの、核兵器保有国や核抑止に依存する国々を交渉のテーブルにつけることすら成功していません。

世界の国々はその安全保障政策において、一方に「核兵器保有国と核抑止依存国」、他方に「核兵器に依存しない国」と二分され、両者の間には深い溝ができています。その打開のために「多国間核軍縮交渉を前進させるための国連作業部会（OEWG）」が本年1月にジュネーブに設置され、８月末までの３会期にわたって議論が行われます。第1会期は、この会議の直前でした。国連機関や政府のみならず、IPPNWを含む世界の多くの反核NGOがこの会議に代表を送っています。私たちは、唯一の核兵器被爆国として、日本政府が核兵器のない世界の実現のために積極的に議論をリードしていただくよう要請します。

会議を終えるにあたり、私たちは被ばく者の医療に携わるとともに、「被ばく者の思い」を継承し、「核兵器の使用、核実験そして核事故が人々の健康と人生、社会、そして環境に及ぼす影響」の総合的解析に寄与し、それらの成果を世界に発信して必要な具体的対策を促し、核兵器廃絶のために努力を続ける決意であることを表明します。

ＩＰＰＮＷ日本支部
支部長　平松　恵一

原文

February 28^th, 2016

Seventy years have passed since the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki; the first experience in history of mankind. In this occasion, North Asia Region of International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW) and Hiroshima International Council for Health Care of the Radiation-Exposed (HICARE) jointly held the international symposium on February 27^th and 28^th at Hiroshima Prefectural Medical Association.

The atomic bomb survivors have been conveying their experiences in various cities around the world, and appealing for the world free from nuclear weapons. We, physicians in Hiroshima and Nagasaki have given medical cares to the survivors, and gave effort in prevailing the findings of the effect of radiation on human health throughout the world. Furthermore, we have facilitated the efficient method of leveraging the medical experience and research result on radiation to human body for the medical care of nuclear-exposed people around the world, leading to enhancement of international cooperation. The drastic development in radiology and radiation medicine could not have taken place without continuous research on radiation effect on human body, by activities including medical care, physical checkup, and survey of exposed people over decades.

"Let us be the last people experiencing the tragedy brought by nuclear weapons" is the earnest wish of survivors, with average age exceeding 80. After the end of World War II, the use of nuclear weapons had been considered multiple times, and false report about the launch, or accident involving nuclear weapons repeatedly took place. Fortunately, it has never exploded in the atmosphere above humankind. Today, even the nuclear-weapon states cannot object to "inhumanity of nuclear weapons".

There are still, however, over 15,000 nuclear weapons in the world. The claim by nuclear-weapon states, insisting step-by-step reduction to accomplish the complete nuclear disarmament as mentioned in the Article VI of Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), has given the chance to others to be the actual nuclear-armed states. The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) is yet to come into effect, and the negotiation method for instituting the Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty (FMCT) is yet to be agreed. The negotiation tables for nuclear-weapon free zone treaties in Northeast Asia and Middle East have not been set, and the risk of security among both areas are becoming higher by date. The Nuclear Weapons Convention has been proposed, but nuclear weapon states and nuclear deterrence-related states were never ready for the discussion.

The national security policy around the world has been divided to two sides; "nuclear-armed states or states under nuclear umbrella" on one side, and "nuclear-weapon-free states" on the other side. Today, grave distance lies between the two. To resolve this situation, the Open-ended Working Group (OEWG) has been organized in Geneva this January, and the discussion will be held three times, until the end of this August. The first meeting was held immediately before this Regional Conference. Delegates from the United Nations, countries around the world, as well as many anti-nuclear NGOs have joined the meeting. We, as the only nuclear-bombed country, urge the Japanese Government to take initiative in the discussion to realize the world free from nuclear weapons.

In concluding this conference, we, physicians, appeal for our firm determination to care the exposed people, prevail their experience and wish, and contribute to comprehensive analysis on the effect of the use of nuclear weapons, nuclear testing and nuclear accident on human health, life, society, and environment. The accumulated experience and knowledge will be conveyed around the world, promoting necessary measures to be taken. Our ceaseless effort will continue until the complete elimination of nuclear weapons.

Keiichi Hiramatsu
President
The Japanese Affiliate
International Physicians for
the Prevention of Nuclear War