On Thursday, 4 August, the Secretary-General will travel to Japan, where he will take part in the Peace Memorial Ceremony in Hiroshima, which is held on 6 August every year. The ceremony aims to console the souls of those lost to the atomic bombing, as well as pray for the realization of lasting world peace. The Secretary-General will honour the victims of the bombings, commemorate all victims of WWII, and reiterate his call on world leaders to urgently eliminate stockpiles of nuclear weapons.

During his visit, the Secretary-General will meet with Japanese senior officials as well as a group of surviving victims of the atomic bombs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, known as the hibakusha. He will also participate in a dialogue with young activists who are leading initiatives on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation and other global issues.

1 August 2022