April - May 2010
As the 2010 NPT Review Conference takes place on May 3-28 at the United Nations in New York, thousands of NGO representatives and engaged citizens from around the world come together to participate in a series of actions and events calling for nuclear weapons abolition - among them the Global Article 9 Campaign. >> more

February 2010
A coalition of 32 Japanese civil society groups issued a joint statement on February 14, 2010 to call for the continued freeze and eventual abolition of the new referendum law, and are now calling for more signatories to join the statement. The statement and list of signatories will be submitted to Diet members. >> read statement

December 2009
Following the precedents in the UK and in the Netherlands, and seizing the momentum created by the change of administration, civil society in Japan is calling for inquiry into Japan’s role in the Iraq War. On December 25, 2009 NGOs submitted a letter to Prime Minister Hatoyama, Foreign Minister Okada and Defence Minister Kitazawa requesting the government to set up an independent body to look into Japan's decision-making process and role in the Iraq war in light of its pacific constitution. >> more

November 2009
The Global Article 9 Campaign to Abolish War co-organized, along with Peace Boat and the International Network for the Abolition of Foreign Military Bases (NO Bases), an International Peace Constitutions Conference for Nuclear and Foreign Military Base Abolition that took place in Ecuador. The event focused on the concrete functions and outcomes of peace constitutions, especially in the areas of nuclear weapons abolition and foreign military base abolition. The final declaration of the conference urged governments to adopt pacifist clauses in their countries' constitution, encouraged the adoption of a UN resolution that recognizes the role that peace constitutions can have in the promotion of global security and disarmament for development, and called on world governments to take concrete steps towards the abolition of nuclear weapons and the strengthening of international mechanisms for arms control, non-proliferation and the disarmament of ALL weapons. >> read more about the conference

July 2009
The Global Article 9 Campaign co-organized an international event held onboard Peace Boat at the port of Puntarenas, Costa Rica. In addition to exploring the value of Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution and Article 12 of the Costa Rican Constitution's regional and global significance, the conference looked at the links between these peace clauses and Article 26 of the United Nations Charter, which calls for the establishment of a system for the regulation of armaments with the least diversion of the world's human and economic resources for armaments in order to promote the establishment and maintenance of international peace and security. The Puntarenas Declaration called for the adoption of a UN resolution acknowledging the role peace constitutions play in promoting global disarmament and urges government to shift priorities in the allocation of resources and decrease military expenditures to invest in financing sustainable development, human security and peace. >> read more about the conference

July 2009
As the Japanese imperial couple was about to visit Canada, eight organizations in Canada issued an open letter asking Emperor and Empress for their support in keeping "Article 9 intact in the spirit of peace" and appealing for continued efforts in "helping bring healing and justice to the victims of atrocities committed by Japan before and during the Asia-Pacific War". Co-signed by Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Filipino and other Canadian associations, the letter pointed to the fact the Japanese Parliament had "yet to pass a resolution that fully admits and apologizes for Japan's responsibility for the loss and suffering of the victims of the Asia-Pacific War". >> read the letter

June 2009
A Japanese delegation represented the Global Article 9 Campaign at the International Association of Democratic Lawyers (IADL)’s XVIIth International Congress held in Hanoi, Vietnam. In its Hanoi Declaration, the Congress reaffirmed its commitment to peace and explicitly "renewed its support for the Global Article 9 Campaign led by Japanese lawyers" and "urge[d] all lawyers and jurists to work for the implementation in every country of the Japanese Constitution's "No War" clause." >> read the Hanoi Declaration

June 2009
In this statement to the UN Conference on the World Financial and Economic Crisis and its Impact on Development, Peace Boat (which acts as the Global Article 9 Campaign Secretariat) calls on developed countries not to use the current crisis as an excuse in meeting their commitments towards achieving the UN Millennium Goals and urge governments, in addition to mobilizing new innovative sources of financing development, to reconsider their spending priorities, reduce their military expenses and reallocate part of their military budget into sustainable development and peace promotion. >> read the statement

May 2009
A representative of the Global Article 9 Campaign participated in a panel discussion co-sponsored by Sejong Society of Washington DC and the Institute for Policy Studies was held at Johns Hopkins University, in Washington D.C. on "The Future of the Six-Party Talks - A view from civil society", emphasizing the need to pursue confidence-building measures and promote conflict prevention in Northeast Asia, and promote a less military-dependent security mechanism in the region.

April 2009
Two important separated but linked meetings - the International Conference against the Asia Pacific Missile Defense and for the End of the Arms Race, and the Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict's (GPPAC) Northeast Asia Regional Steering Group meeting - were held in Seoul, Korea about the "Civil Society Six-Party Talks" as a framework for conflict prevention and peacebuilding in the region. In the context of the North Korean missile launch, the use of Article 9 of Japan's Constitution was praised as the foundation for Northeast Asian security, including its three fundamental principles of renunciation of war, no maintenance of military or other war potential, and the right for people to live in peace.

February 2009
At an international conference held in Bangalore around the theme “Warfare or Welfare: Disarmament or Peace, Human Security and Development in 21st Century India”, a representative of the Global Article 9 Campaign presented the campaign in the framework of a session named "Learning from Experience Worldwide: Campaign on Disarmament and Development - Human Security in Action", as an example of how civil society can use specific local experiences to contribute successfully to the global debate. >> more

The Global Article 9 Campaign support Peace Boat's Hibakusha Project, as Hibakusha not only act as peace and disarmament educators, raising awareness on the dangers of nuclear weapons and the human costs of war, but also forcefully add their voices to the call to abolish all nuclear weapons and create an alternative vision for peace and global stability that does not rely on force.

December 2008
The Global Article 9 Campaign participated in a call for action presented at the UN Conference on Financing for Development in Doha. The appeal called for the reallocation of resources from defense to development and social budgets, in a time of financial crisis. >> read the appeal

November 2008
The Global Article 9 Campaign sent a letter to all members of the UN Security Council, ahead of the Council's debate on "strengthening collective security and armament regulation."

The letter reiterated that Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution supplements Article 26 of the UN Charter and called on governments to regulate armament, reduce worldwide military spending and reallocate the world's limited resources to sustainable development and peace promotion. >> read the letter

September 2008
For the International Day of Peace, the Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict (GPPAC) held celebrations around the world, as a rallying point to raise awareness about the value and necessity of conflict prevention and peacebuilding work.

In Northeast Asia, the common theme was Article 9, and events in Taipei, Tokyo, Ulaanbaatar and Vladivostok ranged from children's celebrations, academic conferences and dance performances. >> more

September 2008
Release of the Global Article 9 Conference to Abolish War official book and DVD (in Japanese). The 240-page book, published by Otsuki Shoten, features all speeches presented at the Plenary Session, and images and records of discussions held throughout the three days. The 120 minute DVD features a 40 minute summary of the Plenary Session, and a chapter on each of the symposiums and special forums held on the following days. >> buy

May-September 2008
A group of creative youth on board Peace Boat's 62nd Global Voyage used dance to share the message of Article 9 throughout their journey around the world. >> more

July 2008
As the G8 Summit was taking place in Japan's Lake Toya, a workshop was held as part of the People's (Alternative) Summit in Sapporo, focusing on A World Without War - the Role of the G8 and Japan's Peace Constitution. >> more

Speakers from Peace Boat, the Foundation for Human Rights in Asia, the Japan Catholic Council for Justice and Peace and a special guest from Action Aid Bangladesh shared the outcomes of the Global Article 9 Conference to Abolish War, and participated in a lively discussion on the significance of the campaign for both Japanese domestic politics and the broader international peace movement. Debate ranged from topics as varied as the role of the media, links between war and poverty, and how pacifism is seen from conflict regions.

May 2008
Secretary General of the Global Article 9 Conference and leader of the Peace and Human Rights Unit for the 2008 G8 Summit Kawasaki Akira participated in the fourth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD). During the NGO session, he seized the opportunity to speak about the Global Article 9 Conference and Campaign, and more specifically on the potential of Article 9 as a peace mechanism and its relevance in peacebuilding.

May 2008
As a major part of this campaign, the large scale “Global Article 9 Conference to Abolish War” was held in Japan from May 4-6, 2008. >> more

This three-day event attracted over 33,000 participants nationwide: over 22,000 in Tokyo, 8,000 in Osaka, 2,000 in Hiroshima and 1,000 in Sendai. Close to 200 international guest speakers and participants came from 40 different countries and regions to represent all continents at the conference.

With the participation of Nobel Peace Laureates, intellectuals, cultural figures and NGO activists, the conference has been a forum for dialogue and discussions on the role that citizens of the world can play to realize the principles of Article 9, through promoting disarmament, demilitarization and a culture of peace.

February – May 2008
Planned and organized at the grass-roots level, a 71-day Article 9 Peace Walk carried the message of Article 9 throughout Japan, mobilized support and raised funds in support of the Global Article 9 Conference to Abolish War. >> more

April 2008
The Center for International Studies of Russia's Marine State University organized a scientific conference on April 30, 2008 in Vladivostok. Under the title "Japan: Six decades without a Right to War," the conference elaborated on the various social, economic and political aspects of Japan's situation today and discussed possibilities of strengthening Northeast Asian multilateral security mechanisms and building a bilateral cooperation between Russia and Japan.

April 2008
In Canada, Vancouver Save Article 9 hosted an event to raise funds for the Global Article 9 Conference. The event featured Vancouver Sun International Affairs columnist Jonathan Manthorpe and Ellen Woodsworth, former Vancouver City Councillor and co-founder of the World Peace Forum 2006 for a discussion around the theme "Shifting Patterns Of Power & Influence In Asia: How They May Affect Japan's 'Normal Country' Debate."

February 2008
On February 22, a press conference was held to announce the program and further details of the Global Article 9 Conference to Abolish War, as well as information about lead-up events throughout Japan.

November – December 2007
The Asia Inter-Religious Conference on Article 9 and Peace in Asia brought together religious leaders from Korea, Taiwan, Okinawa, Hong Kong, Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, India, Sri Lanka, United States, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Germany and Japan.

After three days of exchanges of ideas and discussions, the conference issued a final statement calling on religious circles to support our campaign and encourage participation in the Global Article 9 Conference to Abolish War in May. >> read the statement

June 2007
The inaugural GPPAC Asia Pacific Interregional Forum, bringing together delegates from 17 different countries/regions, adopted the Global Article 9 Campaign as one of its key actions.

May 2007
A workshop was held during the NPT (nonproliferation treaty) Review Preparatory Committee Session in Vienna, Austria. Speakers included Carlos Vargas Pizarro (University of Costa Rica), Colin Archer (International Peace Bureau), Takao Takahara (Meijigakuin University) and Akira Kawasaki (Peace Boat).

The GPPAC Northeast Asia Regional Steering Group Meeting held in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia resolved to support the 2008 Global Article 9 Conference.

April 2007
A press conference was held in Piraeus, Greece in support of Article 9. Participants included the mayor of Piraeus Mr Panagiotis Fasoulas, representatives of various Greek NGOs including educator George Dollianitis, Panos Trigazis (Foreign Policy Spokesperson of SYN), lawyer  Eleni Sotiropoulou and a delegation from Peace Boat.

January 2007
Article 9 workshops held at the World Social Forum, Nairobi Kenya. >> more

Global Article 9 Conference Organizing Committee launched. Along with a broad range of individuals and organisations, the Joint Representatives of the committee are Ikeda Kayoko (translator), Niikura Osamu (President, JALISA) and Yoshioka Tatsuya (Director, Peace Boat).

November 2006
Public notices in support of Article 9 placed in newspapers all over the world. >> more
On November 3, the anniversary of the consitution, joint actions were held in both Japan and Korea. >> more

September 2006
Workshop focusing on the abolition of war through peace constitutions such as Japan's Article 9 held at the 59^th Annual UN DPI/NGO Conference in New York. >> more

June 2006
Japanese, American, Korean and Costa Rican activists co-sponsor a workshop on Article 9 at World Peace Forum, Vancouver. >> more

March 2006
GPPAC Northeast Asia Regional Consultation Meeting held in Mt. Kumgang, North Korea, where participants agreed to organize a Global Article 9 Conference in Tokyo, 2008. >> more

November 2005
Japan-Korea Joint Campaign to support Article 9 organized in Tokyo and Seoul, including public seminars, press conferences and rallies.

August 2005
International public awareness campaign simultaneously organized, placing notices on Article 9 in newspapers worldwide. >> more

July 2005
The GPPAC Global Conference in New York submitted its Global Action Agenda which recognized that Article 9 “has been a foundation for collective security throughout the Asia Pacific region,” to the UN Secretary-General.
Read the Global Action Agenda here.

February 2005
The Northeast Asia Regional Conference of Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict (GPPAC) in Tokyo adopted the Regional Action Agenda which states that principles of Article 9 “should be recognized as having universal value and therefore utilized as a foundation for peace in Northeast Asia.” Based on this common recognition, the 50 participants of the conference agreed to launch the Global Article 9 Campaign.
Read the Regional Action Agenda here.