Photo/Illutration Pugwash President Hussain Al-Shahristan, right, and Secretary-General Karen Hallberg speak at a news conference following the conclusion of the 63rd Pugwash Conference on Science and World Affairs in Hiroshima on Nov. 5. (Jun Ueda)

HIROSHIMA—The 63rd Pugwash Conference on Science and World Affairs, a gathering of global scientists held here, concluded on Nov. 5 with its release of the anti-nuclear weapons "Hiroshima Declaration."

Around 300 participants from 39 countries and regions attended starting Nov. 1 to exchange views on the risks posed by advanced technologies to nuclear weapons and the path toward disarmament.

The declaration asserts that true peace cannot be built on a policy of nuclear deterrence and calls for disarmament through dialogue.

Its stance is framed by ongoing nuclear tensions, including Russia's invasion of Ukraine and U.S. President Donald Trump's recent directive to resume nuclear testing; participants from both countries attended the conference.

The declaration pointed out that the "nuclear taboo"—the principle of never using such weapons again—is wavering as states possessing nuclear arms advance the expansion and modernization of their arsenals.

At a news conference after the issuance, Pugwash Secretary-General Karen Hallberg commented on Trump’s directive to the Department of War to restart nuclear testing.

She pointed out that nuclear-weapon states have committed to negotiations toward nuclear disarmament under the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) and criticized the buildup of arms, stating it must not happen.

With the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) between Russia and the United States set to expire next February, the declaration said the two nations' involvement is indispensable and that dialogue must be extended to all nuclear weapon states.

It additionally laid out that scientists have a special responsibility to guide leaders based on scientific evidence and ethical judgment, calling for action to address the risks posed by new technologies such as artificial intelligence and quantum technology.

Regarding states' policy of deterrence through nuclear weapons, the declaration criticized it for not providing true security. It described ending reliance on nuclear weapons as a moral imperative and called for nuclear weapon states to adopt no-first-use policies, among other measures.

It also referenced Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution that renounces war.

The declaration noted its contents are tied to the 1955 "Russell-Einstein Manifesto." In it, philosopher Bertrand Russell and relativity theorist Albert Einstein called for the abolition of war and asserted that true security lies in multilateralism, respect for the law, dialogue, justice and shared humanity.

At a news conference after the event, Pugwash President Hussain Al-Shahristan spoke of the significance of holding it in Hiroshima, stating that it served as a renewed reminder to everyone of how grave a danger nuclear weapons pose to humanity. 

This is the first time in 20 years the conference was held in Hiroshima and marks the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing.

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