The International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons says its executive director will attend ceremonies in Hiroshima and Nagasaki to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombings.
The group won the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize for its contribution to the adoption of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.
ICAN announced on Monday that Melissa Parke will visit Japan in August. It will be the first time for its head to attend the peace memorial ceremonies in the two western Japan cities.
ICAN’s previous executive director planned to attend the ceremonies in 2020, but was unable to due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
ICAN says Parke will stay in Japan for about a week during which time she will also travel to Osaka to participate in events promoting the abolition of nuclear weapons.
In a statement, Parke said she wants to honor the atomic bomb survivors, known as hibakusha, and their “indefatigable campaigning”. She added that nuclear-armed nations should meet hibakusha’s desire to eliminate nuclear arms in their lifetimes.
AloJapan.com