Open Letter to the G7 Italy Summit

　Although the G7 Hiroshima Summit held in May 2023 in the A-bombed city of Hiroshima was expected to make progress toward nuclear abolition, the Hiroshima Vision that was announced was extremely inadequate as a message from the A-bombed city, as it affirmed the theory of nuclear deterrence and did not mention the inhumanity of nuclear weapons, thus betraying the Hibakusha and other citizens who have worked so hard to achieve nuclear abolition.
　In response to this Hiroshima Vision, the Association issued a statement of protest on May 29, 2023, calling for the withdrawal of the Hiroshima Vision and urging for sincere efforts toward nuclear abolition.

　Even after the Hiroshima summit, Russia's invasion of Ukraine has not ceased, and Israel has launched an invasion of the Gaza Strip, with nuclear threats being used in both conflicts. Furthermore, a member of the U.S. House of Representatives has claimed the necessity of dropping atomic bombs on the Gaza Strip.
　The crisis surrounding nuclear weapons has been caused by the fact that major nations have adopted policies based on nuclear deterrence, which is premised on the possession and use of nuclear weapons. Nuclear weapons are used not as a deterrent against attacks on one's own country, but as a means to forcefully push one's own point of view.
　All governments must be reminded of the imminent threat of the use of nuclear weapons and must make every effort to avoid, at all costs, the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of their use.

　The Second Meeting of States Parties to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, which concluded on December 1, 2023, severely criticized security policies based on nuclear deterrence as "contrary to the legitimate security interests of all mankind" and as a "dangerous, erroneous and unacceptable approach to security." Furthermore, it is expected that the consultation process on security concerns will deepen discussions on overcoming security through nuclear deterrence on scientific grounds.
　Thus, the nuclear weapon states have turned their backs on the framework of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), where realistic discussions toward the abolition of nuclear weapons can be promoted, thereby increasing the danger posed by nuclear weapons.

　The G7 Italy Summit to be held in June 2024 should reaffirm the extremely dangerous current nuclear situation and confirm that the security policy based on nuclear deterrence theory is "dangerous, wrong, and unacceptable".
　Now is the time to move away from nuclear deterrence, a dangerous and erroneous theory, and to achieve nuclear abolition as soon as possible. We call for serious discussions on nuclear disarmament to be held at the G7 Italy Summit.