The Secretariat of the Pugwash Committee of Kazakhstan reports that the 63rd Pugwash Conference was held in Hiroshima on November 1–5, 2025. The forum was dedicated to three anniversaries: the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing, the 70th anniversary of the Russell–Einstein Manifesto, and the 30th anniversary of the Nobel Peace Prize awarded to Joseph Rotblat and the Pugwash Movement. The organizers emphasized the main message of the meeting: “No More Hiroshimas. No More Nagasakis. No More War.” (pugwash.org).
The program featured plenary sessions and thematic discussions on reducing nuclear risks and strengthening international dialogue. The conference’s work proceeded through the following thematic working groups:
1. Nuclear disarmament and the future of arms control
2. Nuclear energy and non-proliferation
3. The Asia-Pacific region and nuclear weapons
4. Conflicts and weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East
5. European security
6. New technologies and their impact on conflicts.
Working Group on “Nuclear Energy and Non-Proliferation”
Kazakhstan was represented by Dr. Arman Zhanarbekovich Miniyazov, Deputy Director of the Institute of Atomic Energy of the National Nuclear Center of the Republic of Kazakhstan and member of the Pugwash Committee of Kazakhstan.
On the sidelines of the conference, working meetings were held with Dr. Hussein Al-Shahristani, President of the Pugwash Movement, and Dr. Karen Hallberg, Secretary General, to discuss ongoing cooperation between the Pugwash Committee of Kazakhstan and the international Pugwash community, as well as future plans. Kazakhstan’s active engagement was reaffirmed through expert participation in working groups, the development of youth initiatives, and joint events among national committees of member countries.
President of the Pugwash Movement Dr. Hussein Al-Shahristani and Dr. Arman Miniyazov, member of the Pugwash Committee of Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan’s participation in the 63rd Pugwash Conference underscores the country’s commitment to dialogue, nuclear risk reduction, and disarmament promotion. The experience of hosting the previous 62nd conference in Astana and the ongoing activities of the Pugwash Committee of Kazakhstan form a solid foundation for further contributions by Kazakh scientists and experts to global decision-making.
Reference. The previous 62nd Pugwash Conference was held in Astana, Kazakhstan, on August 25-29, 2017, under the theme “Confronting New Nuclear Dangers” (https://pugwash.org/2017/08/25/62nd-pugwash-conference-astana/).
In the photo (left to right): Tatsujiro Suzuki, Karen Hallberg, Hussein Al-Shahristani, Götz Neuneck, and Tomohiro Inagaki.
Pugwash laid a commemorative wreath at the cenotaph of the Hiroshima Peace Memorial.
The 63rd Pugwash Conference in Hiroshima reaffirmed the role of Pugwash as a working instrument of scientific diplomacy. Here, expert insights are transformed into actionable measures to reduce nuclear risks — coordinated recommendations for governments, regional confidence-building initiatives, and the training of a new generation of experts through the International Student/Young Pugwash (ISYP) network. The historical memory of Hiroshima serves not merely as a symbol, but as a mechanism of responsibility.
Details, the full program, and materials are available on the official website of the Pugwash Movement: 63rd Pugwash Conference in Hiroshima. The site also features a welcome address by the Secretary General and the keynote lecture by Dr. M. Javad Zarif, “Rethinking Middle East Security in a Changing Environment.” (pugwash.org).