From 27 April to 22 May 2026, SGI attended and actively engaged in the 11th Review Conference of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). The conference took place during one of the most difficult and dangerous geopolitical moments in recent years, marked by rising tensions, increasing nuclear risks, the modernization and expansion of nuclear arsenals and growing concerns over nuclear weapons use and proliferation.

Despite these challenges, the conference represented a crucial opportunity to assess the status of the NPT, one of the world’s most important instruments for preventing nuclear war. At a time when it is becoming increasingly evident that humanity cannot rely on nuclear deterrence as a foundation for global security, the need for dialogue, cooperation, and disarmament has never been more urgent.

Throughout the conference, SGI highlighted the essential role of youth and education in advancing nuclear disarmament. Drawing lessons from past geopolitical crises and nuclear close calls, SGI’s activities emphasized the importance of nuclear risk reduction as complementary to disarmament efforts, while also stressing the catastrophic humanitarian and environmental consequences caused by nuclear weapons.

Some nuclear-armed states and their allies frequently try to soften or remove language regarding the "humanitarian consequences" of nuclear weapons. However, we cannot stop amplifying the voices of the Hibakusha and communities affected by nuclear testing in Kazakhstan, the Marshall Islands, New Mexico, Nevada, Bikini Atoll, Algeria, French Polynesia and many other parts of the world. The testimonies of those who have suffered from the consequences of nuclear weapons, together with overwhelming scientific evidence, are not solely  emotional testimonies or data points; they are a powerful call to confront nuclear proliferation and uphold states’ obligations under the NPT and international humanitarian law.

On the eve of the NPT Review Conference, SGI supported a one-day Youth Summit that brought together young advocates from around the world to draft a Youth Declaration. SGI also endorsed four joint civil society statements during the conference, including an interfaith statement signed by more than 100 organizations, calling on governments to make courageous decisions to protect present and future generations from nuclear weapons.

During the first week of the conference, SGI participated in several important activities. On the morning of 29 April, while states gathered at the United Nations for the third day of negotiations, SGI collaborated with Pax Christi International and Voices for a World Free of Nuclear Weapons to coordinate a moment of prayer and reflection. People from different religious backgrounds gathered at the Chapel of the Church Center for the United Nations to reaffirm their shared commitment to a world free of nuclear weapons and to reflect on the critical moment humanity is facing. The gathering strongly rejected the threat of mutually assured destruction and called for a renewed moral and spiritual commitment to peace.

As stated in the interfaith statement delivered during the conference:

“Underlying all of this is a spiritual crisis rooted in the normalization of violence and war as instruments for resolving conflict between peoples and nations. When armed force is treated as a first resort, when military spending eclipses investment in human development, when entire populations are taught to accept the threat of annihilation as a condition of their security, our moral imagination has failed. The acceptance of apocalyptic violence as the final arbiter of disputes among nations is not simply a strategic posture. It is a spiritual sickness—one that every faith tradition we represent has named, lamented and called its followers to resist.”

On 30 April, SGI co-organized an event with the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation (NAPF) titled ”Choose Hope: Addressing Extended Deterrence Through the Lens of the Humanitarian Impact of Nuclear Weapons.” Inspired by the dialogue between NAPF co-founder David Krieger and SGI President Daisaku Ikeda, the event explored nuclear disarmament through the lens of the humanitarian impact of nuclear weapons.

During the event, Tomohiko Aishima of SGI highlighted the illusion of nuclear deterrence and the transformative power of education:

“When we ask, ‘Whose security?’ the answer is clear: deterrence prioritizes the abstract ego of the nation-state while holding citizens of the Earth hostage. It relies on luck—and luck is not a strategy. We must shift from state security to human security.”

Participants also had the valuable opportunity to hear the testimony and powerful message from atomic bomb survivor Hideto Matsuura of Nihon Hidankyo (Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations):

“I also want to tell you about the fact that radiation continues to afflict people for several decades. It has been over 80 years, but radiation continues to injure Hibakusha’s bodies as they continue to develop one disease after another. These are called late-onset disorders. Many of the Hibakusha were struck by illnesses such as cancer, leukemia and many others. Some got multiple cancers. We must not allow anyone to use such devilish weapons again”.

The following day, another event titled “Preventing Nuclear Use and Escalation: Lessons from Nuclear Close Calls” was held at UN Headquarters. The event was co-organized with the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies in cooperation with the Permanent Mission of Austria to the United Nations. The discussion emphasized the urgent need to rebuild trust among nuclear-armed states and reinforce the global norm against nuclear weapons use.

During the event, Chie Sunada of SGI shared her reflections on the so-called “Okinawa incident” and the importance of learning from history, which several participants reported finding interesting. She stressed the key role that peace and disarmament education can play in preventing nuclear war and highlighted the transformative power of humanity:

“I have visited the site of a former missile base in Okinawa, which has now been transformed into a site for peace. The former launch pads and bunker complex have been preserved as a historical reminder of humanity's dangerous obsession with war and nuclear weapons. The intention was to transform a facility originally designed for mass destruction into a center dedicated to conveying a message of world peace. Today, it regularly hosts peace forums, gatherings and events such as the Youth Summit, where youth delegates from around the world discuss disarmament, nonviolence and peacebuilding.”

Throughout the month of the NPT Review Conference, SGI attended side events, followed discussions of the conference’s main committees, engaged in dialogue and advocacy with states, strengthened relationships with long-standing partners and built new connections with civil society organizations and activists.

The vast majority of states reaffirmed the urgency of nuclear disarmament and emphasized the catastrophic humanitarian and environmental consequences of nuclear weapons. Despite the efforts of Ambassador Do Hung Viet, President of the Conference, to create space for dialogue across political differences, the conference concluded without a final consensus outcome. The draft outcome documents reflected continued international support for the NPT and important commitments on education, humanitarian consequences and risk reduction, yet such commitments were weakened across revisions. Nevertheless, one thing remained clear: the NPT continues to be an essential framework for preventing nuclear war.

Looking ahead, the international community is now preparing for the first Review Conference of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), alongside several other important meetings taking place this year. There is no room for pessimism to stop our actions. Especially at a time when states struggle to find common ground on nuclear disarmament, the role of civil society remains vital in uplifting the voices of people around the world.