Peace and Disarmament

Our activities for peace and disarmament originate from the 1957 anti-nuclear declaration made by the second president of the Soka Gakkai, Josei Toda. Viewing nuclear weapons as a manifestation of the bleakest aspects of the human heart, that is, the total disregard for the sanctity of life, we work toward their complete abolition.

In this focus area, we broadly work on issues including:

  • Universalization of the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) through promoting signature and ratification processes, as well as raising public awareness
  • Promoting peace and disarmament education
  • Highlighting intersectionality
  • Exploring the role of youth in peace and security and promoting the SCR 2250 on Youth, Peace and Security
  • Exploring the linkage between Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and nuclear disarmament
Networks and Campaigns We Primarily Work With
  • Amplify
  • Campaign to Stop Killer Robots
  • Faith Communities Concerned about Nuclear Weapons
  • International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN)
Relevant Resources
Celebrating Caribbean Leadership!

This animated graphic illustrates CARICOM member states’ unparalleled increase of signatures and ratifications of the TPNW since its adoption. Watch Animation

Sustainable Development Goals and the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons

This handout was prepared for a workshop titled “Cities Must Save Themselves from the Nuclear Weapon Threat” at the 68th UN Civil Society Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah. Download PDF to Learn More

To Safeguard Future Generations – Interfaith Responses to the Threat of Nuclear Weapons

At a side event held during the UN General Assembly First Committee in October 2018, SGI delivered a presentation on the threat of nuclear weapons from a Buddhist perspective. Read Presentation

SGI Office for UN Affairs, Reshape History, an SGI animation about the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons“Reshape History”
SGI produced this animation in cooperation with ICAN, which informs people about the dangers of nuclear weapons and the importance of the TPNW. Watch Animation

SGI Office for UN Affairs, peace and disarmament, Setsuko Thurlow, automic bomb survivor interviewInterview with Setsuko Thurlow, Atomic Bomb Survivor
In this video produced by ICAN during the negotiations for the TPNW, Hayley Ramsay-Jones interviews Hibakusha and longtime nuclear disarmament activist Setsuko Thurlow about her thoughts, experiences and hopes for the future. Watch Video 

Youth and Nuclear Disarmament
During the negotiations for the TPNW, Hayley Ramsay-Jones was interviewed by the Peace Foundation New Zealand to talk about the importance of youth engagement in nuclear disarmament.  Watch Video

Hiroshima and Nagasaki: That We Never Forget
This book published by SGI shares the stories of over 50 hibakusha—atomic bomb survivors—from Nagasaki and Hiroshima. Download e-book for free

SGI Office for UN Affairs, SGI exhibit "Everything You Treasure-For a World Free from Nuclear Weapons"Everything You Treasure—For a World Free From Nuclear Weapons
This exhibition, co-created by SGI and ICAN, examines the nuclear weapons issue from 12 perspectives and how each person can be part of the solution to abolishing them. It is available in English, Spanish and Japanese. Download PDF to Learn More

From a Culture of Violence to a Culture of Peace: Toward a World Free From Nuclear Weapons 
Produced by SGI, the exhibition highlights the synergy between the goals of human security and disarmament, particularly nuclear weapons abolition. It also refers to the personal dimensions of disarmament, suggesting that the issue of nuclear weapons provides us with an opportunity to fundamentally change our mindset as we engage in the challenge of moving from a culture of violence to a culture of peace. It is available in English, Spanish, Arabic and Japanese. Download PDF to Learn More

Testimonies of Hiroshima and Nagasaki: Women Speak Out for Peace
This DVD created by SGI features hibakusha sharing their testimonies about their experience of the atomic bombings in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Subtitles in Japanese, English, Spanish, French, Traditional Chinese and Simplified Chinese. Voiceover available in German. Hear Testimonies

Articles and Publications

SGI Report on Disarmament Education Activities (2016-2018) 
This report was submitted in contribution to the Eighth Biennial Report of the Secretary-General on Disarmament and Non-proliferation (A/73/119) submitted to the 73rd session of the General Assembly. Read Report 

SGI Office for UN Affairs, Global Change, Peace & Security, article on Why Youth and Feminist Activism Matters contribution by Anna Ikeda of SGIWhy Youth and Feminist Activism Matters
This article, written by WILPF Australia and published in Global Change, Peace & Security, details why the perspectives of young people are significant, and outlines various strengths and strategies of engaging youth, along with complexities and challenges. Anna Ikeda contributed to the article as a representative of Amplify. Read Article 

SGI Office for UN Affairs, UNODA Occasional Papers No. 31: Celebrating 15 Years of Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Education, article on Youth engagement by Anna Ikeda of SGIUNODA Occasional Papers No. 31: Celebrating 15 Years of Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Education
This edition of the UNODA Occasional Papers celebrates the fifteenth anniversary of the United Nations Study on Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Education, which was presented to the UN General Assembly in 2002 (A/57/124). Anna Ikeda co-authored a chapter on youth engagement, on behalf of Amplify. Read Paper 

The Role of the Public in Eliminating Nuclear Weapons 
In this article published in the November 2017 issue of the Sorjouners magazine, Anna Ikeda discusses the significance of the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) and the role that the public can play in making nuclear abolition a reality. Read Article (Subscription Required)

SGI Office for UN Affairs, publication "The Missing Peace" Thematic Papers for the Progress Study on Youth, Peace and Security Thematic Papers for the Progress Study on Youth, Peace and Security: These papers were submitted by SGI to the UN as a contribution to the Progress Study on Youth Peace and Security, which was mandated by UN Security Council Resolution 2250 and aims to highlight young people’s positive contributions to peace and security.

  • The Role of Youth in Nuclear Disarmament; Examining the Project, “The People’s Decade for Nuclear Abolition.” Download Paper
  • Disaster Recovery and Youth, Peace and Security:
    Examining the Project, “The SOKA Global Action.” Download Paper

SGI Office for UN Affairs, Nuclear Ban Daily article on Disarmament Education - For a Truly Universal TreatyDisarmament Education – For a Truly Universal Treaty (in Nuclear Ban Daily Vol. 2, No. 13, p. 3)
In this issue of Nuclear Ban Daily, a publication produced by Reaching Critical Will to provide news and analysis from the UN conference to negotiate a legally binding instrument to prohibit nuclear weapons, leading towards their total elimination, SGI speaks about the role and importance of peace and disarmament education in making the TPNW a universal treaty.  Read Issue

Statements and Working Papers

1 May 2019 – Statement by Faith Communities Concerned about Nuclear Weapons, submitted to the third session of the Preparatory Committee for the 2020 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). Read Statement

26 April 2019 – SGI Statement submitted to the third session of the Preparatory Committee for the 2020 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). Read Statement

17 October 2018 – SGI Statement submitted to the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly First Committee. Read Statement

16 October 2018 – Statement by Faith Communities Concerned about Nuclear Weapons, submitted to the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly First Committee. Read Statement

25 April 2018 – Statement by Faith Communities Concerned about Nuclear Weapons, delivered at the second session of the Preparatory Committee for the 2020 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference, held in Geneva. Read Statement

20 June 2017 – SGI Statement on Disarmament Education, delivered at the United Nations conference to negotiate a legally binding instrument to prohibit nuclear weapons, leading towards their total elimination. Read Statement

16 June 2017 – SGI Statement on the Preamble Text, delivered at the United Nations conference to negotiate a legally binding instrument to prohibit nuclear weapons, leading towards their total elimination. Read Statement

6 June 2017 – SGI Working Paper “Comments and Proposals for the Draft Convention on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons” (A/CONF.229/2017/NGO/WP.25). Read Working Paper

23 March 2017 – SGI Working Paper “On the Objectives and Significance of Prohibiting Nuclear Weapons” (A/CONF.229/2017/NGO/WP.8).
Read Working Paper

March 2017 – Statement by the Faith Communities Concerned about Nuclear Weapons, delivered at the United Nations conference to negotiate a legally binding instrument to prohibit nuclear weapons, leading towards their total elimination. Read Statement

Relevant News

For news related to Peace & Disarmament, click here.

Contact: Hayley Ramsay-Jones at hayley.rj@sgi-ouna.org and Anna Ikeda at aikeda@sgi-ouna.org