From 1-5 November 2025, Hiroshima hosts the 63rd Pugwash Conference. We are honoured to be meeting in Hiroshima to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombings, as well as the 70th anniversary of the Russell-Einstein Manifesto, and the 30th anniversary of the Nobel Peace Prize to Sir Joseph Rotblat and Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs.
From the bombed areas, where the scars are still very evident, the 63rd Pugwash Conference sends a strong message to the world: No more Hiroshimas. No more Nagasakis. No more war.
View the Conference Report
Conference documents
63rd Pugwash Conference: Program and plenary presentations
30-31 October: The International Student/Young Pugwash (ISYP) held a two-day conference in Hiroshima, convening 36 young professionals and graduate students from 22 countries. These participants joined the main Pugwash Conference, contributing across the range of plenary sessions, working groups, and other activities.
| November 1 |
| PL1 –Opening Ceremony Welcome: Prof. Tomohiro Inagaki, chair of the Conference Organizing Committee Welcome by Pugwash officials: H.E. Dr. Hussain Al-Shahristani & Prof. Karen Hallberg Video message from UN High Representative H.E. Izumi Nakamitsu Chair: Dr. Keiko Nakamura, Nagasaki University |
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| PL2 – Keynote Welcome Speeches Hon. Kazumi Matsui, Mayor of Hiroshima City H.E. Hidehiko Yuzaki, Governor of Hiroshima Prefecture |
| PL3 –Dialogue with Hibakusha and Citizens Ms. Keiko Ogura, Hiroshima Hibakusha H.E. Dr. Hussain Al-Shahristani, President of Pugwash Ms. Natsuki Kai, high school peace ambassador, Hiroshima Chair: Prof. Luli van der Does, Hiroshima University |
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| PL4 – 80 Years Since Hiroshima and Nagasaki: Towards the Abolition of Nuclear Weapons Dr. Ruth Mitchell, International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW) Dr. Tilman Ruff, International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) Prof. Tatsujiro Suzuki, Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs Prof. Terumi Tanaka, Nihon Hidankyo Chair: Ms. Yumi Kanazaki, Chūgoku Shimbun |
| November 2 Dr. Jennifer Simons, The Simons Foundation Canada – Introduction to the Simons Symposium |
| PL5 – The Urgency of Nuclear Reductions Amb. (ret.) Sergey Batsanov, Pugwash Council Dr. Steven E. Miller, Belfer Centre for Science and International Affairs, Harvard University Dr. Tong Zhao, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace Chair: Prof. Götz Neuneck, Chair, Pugwash Council |
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| PL6 – Practical Steps and Instruments for Nuclear Disarmament Amb.Carlos Duarte, Ministry of External Relations, Brazil Amb. (ret.) Karim Haggag, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute Amb. (ret.)Yasuyoshi Komizo, former Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan Dr. Manpreet Sethi, Centre for Air Power Studies Chair: Amb. Paul Meyer, Canadian Pugwash |
| PL7 – The Role of Scientists in Reducing Nuclear Threats Prof. David Harel, Israeli Academy of Sciences Prof. Frank von Hippel, Princeton University Dr. Anton Khlopkov, Center for Energy and Security Studies, Russia Prof.Michiji Konuma, Keio University Chair: Ms. Talia Weiss, Director, International Student/Young Pugwash |
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| PL8 – Dorothy Hodgkin Lecture: Consequences of a Nuclear War Prof. Alan Robock,Department of Environmental Sciences, Rutgers University Chair: Prof. Tatsujiro Suzuki, Pugwash Japan and Pugwash Council |
| PL9 – Briefing on Fukushima Prof. Hisako Sakiyama, 3.11 Fund for Children with Thyroid Cancer Mr. Shigenori Kanehira, freelance journalist Chair: Hiroko Takahashi, Nara University |
| November 3 |
| PL10 – Keynote: Rethinking Middle East Security in a changing environment H.E. Dr. Javad Zarif, former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Islamic Republic of Iran [video; read remarks] Chair: H.E. Dr. Hussain Al-Shahristani, President of Pugwash |
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| PL11 – Overcoming security challenges in the Middle East: An Israeli perspective Col. (ret.) Itamar Yaar, Former IDF Commander and former Deputy National Security Adviser Chair: Mr. Arnold Luethold, Pugwash Council |
| PL12 – Overcoming security challenges in the Middle East: An Iranian perspective H.E. Dr. Saeed Khatibzadeh, Deputy Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran Chair: Mr. Arnold Luethold, Pugwash Council |
| PL13 – The future of the European Security Architecture Amb. (ret.) Thomas Countryman, Board Chairman, Arms Control Association H.E. Pavlo Klimkin,Centre for National Resilience and Development, Kyiv Col. (ret.) Wolfgang Richter, former German Federal Army Prof. Sergey Oznobishchev, Military-Political Analysis Sector, IMEMO Chair: Dr. Katariina Simonen, Pugwash Council |
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| PL14 – Averting Escalation and Working towards Stability in Northeast Asia Prof. Kiichi Fujiwara, Juntendo University Prof. Jun Hae-won, Korea National Diplomatic Academy Prof. Sharon Squassoni, The George Washington University Dr. Tong Zhao, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace Chair: Dr. Mark Suh, Pugwash Council & Ms. Elisabeth Suh, International Student/Young Pugwash |
| November 4 |
| PL15 – The situation in Gaza Mr. Roland Friedrich, UNRWA West Bank (via videolink) Chair: Amb. (ret.) Khaled Shamaa, Pugwash Council |
| PL16 – The Future of the Palestine-Israel Peace Process H.E. Nasser Al-Kidwa, formerForeign Minister for the Palestinian Authority H.E. Ehud Olmert, former Prime Minister of Israel Chair: Prof. Karen Hallberg, Secretary General, Pugwash |
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| PL17A – President’s Address, H.E. Dr Hussain Al-Shahristani, President of Pugwash PL17B – Secretary General’s Report, Prof. Karen Hallberg, Secretary General of Pugwash Chair: Prof. Ana María Cetto, Chair of the Pugwash Advisory Board PL17C – Video message from Dr. Robert Floyd, Executive Secretary of the CTBTO PL17D – Message from Amb. Rafael Grossi, Director General of the IAEA |
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| November 5 |
| PL18 –Disruptive Technologies and Nuclear Weapons Prof. Yuko Murakami, Rikkyo University Prof. Herb Lin, Stanford University Amb. (ret.) Paul Meyer, Simon Fraser University Chair: Prof. Tomohiro Inagaki,Hiroshima University |
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| PL19 – The Pugwash Movement and the Renunciation of War: Dialogue Across Divides Prof. Izzeldin Abuelaish, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto Dr. David Ellwood, Pugwash Council Prof. Seigo Hirowatari, Tokyo University Chair: Prof. Yoshiko Kurita, Chiba University |
Photo Gallery
Sponsors
Pugwash and the Conference organizers extend their deep gratitude to the following institutions for financial support:
The Simons Foundation Canada | Toshiba International Foundation | MacArthur Foundation Sokka Gakkai Hiroshima City | Hiroshima Prefecture | Friedrich Ebert Stiftung
Hiroshima Convention and Visitors Bureau | Hiroshima International Cultural Foundation
Balcom Co. Ltd | Chiyoda Technol Corporation | Hiroshima University Coop
Hiroshima University | Japan National Tourism Organization | Kure City Murakami Farm SOLCOM Co. Ltd | RCC Broadcasting Corporation | Sasakawa Peace Foundation
The Shimonaka Memorial Foundation World Conference Religions for Peace Japan
Hiroshima Television Corporation Group |Hiroshima Home Television Co. Ltd
TSS-TV Co. Ltd | Individual Contributions
Press coverage
8 November: Post-conference Press Conference in Tokyo
Post-conference: Jijitsushin | ANN News (YouTube) | Mainichi Shumbun
November 6 Mainichi Shimbun (via Yahoo News) | Mainichi Shimbun | Chugoku Shimbun | Nihon Keizai Shimbun (Kyodo News) | RCC Chugoku Hoso (TBS) | Asahi newspaper | Jiji Tsushin
Day three: Chugoku Shimbun | Chugoku Shimbun | Chugoku Shimbun | 2045NEWS (YouTube) |
Day two: Chugoku Shimbun | Chugoku Shimbun | Yahoo News (Kyodo Tsushin) | Yahoo News（FNN Prime TV) | Yahoo news（Kyodo Tsushi )
Day one: NHK | Asahi | Yahoo News | Jiji Tsushin | Nihon Keizai | Mainichi | Kyodo Tsushin | Nippon.com | YouTube kyodo tsushin
Across divides
P eople of all countries
U nite against adversities!
G reat is the risk to perish
W hen we are too selfish
A nd do not understand each other!
S o we shall make, together,
H umanity overcome evil power!
Jacques Bordé, member of Pugwash France
Hiroshima, November 2025
Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs 