Announcing the Hiroshima-ICAN Academy on Nuclear Weapons and Global Security 2022

Hiroshima Prefecture and the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (“ICAN”), the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize laureate, will hold the Hiroshima-ICAN Academy on Nuclear Weapons and Global Security 2022 (hereafter referred to as “the Academy”). Through this training program, we aim to nurture global leaders who can make concrete contributions towards a more peaceful and secure world.
Join us for this opportunity to meet and learn together with inspiring people from diverse backgrounds around the world!

Background of the program

The first Academy in Summer 2019 was held in-person, with 15 students and young professionals from different regions of the world coming to Hiroshima. In 2020 and 2021, with 31 participants each year, the program consisted of 2 parts; Part 1 as online learning and webinars, and Part 2 planned to be an in-person training in Hiroshima. Part 2 had to be canceled in both years due to the COVID-19 situation, and the Special Program replaced this. Held in March 2022, this featured online testimonies by Hibakusha and a virtual tour of A-bombed remains and the Peace Museum in Hiroshima, enabling participants to see the humanitarian
consequences of the use of nuclear weapons.

Number of participants to date: 77
Countries/Regions of participants: 30 (Algeria, Argentine, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China, Democratic Republic of the Congo, France, Georgia, Germany, India, Iran, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Republic of Korea, Kyrgyz Republic, Mexico, Mongolia, Netherlands, Norway, Pakistan, Poland, Russia, Uganda, United Kingdom and the United States)
Previous programs (click for reports): Academy 2019 / Academy 2020 / Academy 2021 / Special Program

Program Overview

The Academy 2022 is planned to be held in two sessions; ”Online Learning and Webinar Session”, and “Hiroshima Session”. Participants are expected to complete both sessions. The Academy 2022's overall theme will be “Nuclear weapons and sustainability”. The grave risks associated with nuclear weapons have become evident today as global concerns on climate and health crises grow. Participants are expected to tackle these problems in seeking a sustainable solution to present security issues through a critical and interactive learning process.

Dates:
1) “Online Learning and Webinar Session” (4 days between mid-October and early November)
2) “Hiroshima Session” (Wednesday, November 9 - Saturday, November 12)
Participants: 30 students in college, university, or graduate school and young professionals (approximately 25 years of age or younger)
- 15 from nuclear weapon states (NWSs)
- 15 from non-nuclear weapon states (NNWSs)
* NWSs are China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States, as defined by the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). NNWSs are all countries not NWSs.
* Among participants, one (1) shall have a connection to Hiroshima Prefecture.
Language: The whole program will be conducted in English.
Tuition fee: Free
Costs associated with programs on “Hiroshima session”: Free
- Meals and accommodation during the program, and costs associated with the fieldwork (admission fees etc.) will be covered by the organizers.
- Participants are responsible for covering their travel expenses from/to their home to/from the venue in Hiroshima, visa fees (if applicable), overseas travel insurance fees and other personal expenses associated with their participation.
Scholarships: - Several outstanding participants may be supported with a travel scholarship.
* In principle, the scholarships will be provided to those who would otherwise find it difficult to come to Hiroshima for economic reasons, mainly from economically-
disadvantaged countries/regions. Intention to apply for this need-basis travel scholarship will not have any impact on the overall selection process.
* Participants are encouraged to seek financial support from their school or affiliated organization. The organizers can issue an official supporting letter for these purposes.

Sessions Overview

1) ”Online Learning and Webinar Session”
Through an asynchronous training program (self-paced) and participating in webinars as a synchronous training program (set-pace, at scheduled times), participants will learn about four themes: the humanitarian impact of nuclear weapons; the political, legal, and technical aspects of nuclear weapons and global security; civil society in action; and disarmament diplomacy and the role of the United Nations.
During the interactive and engaging webinars, participants will have opportunities to learn from guest educators including atomic bomb survivors, as well as mutual learning among participants themselves.
Platform for webinars: Zoom (TBC)

2) ”Hiroshima Session”
Participants will have an invaluable opportunity to learn about the humanitarian impact of nuclear weapons through activities such as directly hearing testimonies of the survivors and visiting the A-bombed remains and peace museum unique to Hiroshima, along with other themes.
This is an in-person training program in Hiroshima. It is even more important, during the grave tension of potential use of nuclear weapons, for participants to come together to learn from Hiroshima and its people.
Dates: Wednesday, November 9 - Saturday, November 12
Venue: An accommodation and training facility in Hiroshima City

Program Features

• Understand the reality of the atomic bombing, such as the inhumanity of nuclear weapons and health effects of radiation, through testimonies of the survivors.

• Learn about global trends on nuclear weapons and global security, through exchange with professors and researchers of universities, institutions, and so forth.

• Acquire necessary skills and innovative visions for concretely contributing in the global arena towards realizing a peaceful world.
• Engage with and learn from UN officials, diplomats, and NGO members.

Program Themes

• Humanitarian impact of nuclear weapons

• Political, legal, and technical aspects of nuclear weapons and global security

• Civil society in action

• Diplomacy for disarmament and security, and the role of the United Nations

Information Sessions

Join us for one of the online information sessions to learn more about features of the program, the applicationprocess and details of both sessions of the Academy 2022.

1) 7:00-8:30pm Japan Standard Time: JST (UTC+9), Friday, July 1 (Europe, Africa, Middle East, Asia and Oceania, and Pacific)
Click here to register to join the above Online Information Session.

2) 8:00-9:30am JST (UTC+9), Tuesday, July 12 (North and South America, and Pacific)
Click here to register to join the above Online Information Session.

Application Details

Applications open on July 1, and the deadline for submission will be August 12, 2022.
For full details about the application requirements, procedures, schedule and more, as well as for any inquiries about the program, please visit the dedicated homepage of Hiroshima Prefecture here!