In August 1945, Nagasaki was the target of the world's second atomic bomb attack after Hiroshima. An estimated 40,000 people were instantly killed, the death toll eventually reaching over 70,000 with hundreds of thousands injured and diseased as a result of the bombing. The Nagasaki Peace Messengers visit Geneva every August to present to the United Nations a petition advocating for the elimination of all nuclear weapons and promotion of world peace.

‘We will make every effort to spread the message of peace. Peace will spread over the world one day’, said one Peace Messenger who talked about her hard work in the ‘Pencils instead of Missiles’ campaign. The dynamic campaign sends pencils to other children around Asia who don’t have pencils to do their schoolwork. ‘We want to spread the word of peace internationally so people will always have hope for peace’ she said.

As part of the delegation, a survivor of the atomic bomb in Nagasaki shared her harrowing experience of the pain and devastation of the dropping of the bomb. “ I was ten years old when the bomb was dropped. I lost family members and for a long time I could not talk about what had happened. I didn’t choose to be bombed,’ she said. ‘ The atomic bomb gave pain to everyone. We have to eliminate them from this world.’

The Nagasaki Peace Messengers presented the World YCWA with symbols of peace and a message from the YWCA of Nagasaki. ‘ The Nagasaki YWCA hopes Nagasaki City will be the last bomb site in the world. The YWCA prays for a peaceful world and that all nations will renounce nuclear bombs ‘ said the Nagasaki YWCA.

World YWCA General Secretary Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda affirmed the work of the Nagasaki Peace Messengers and the YWCA of Japan. “The YWCA of Japan remains a solid voice to continue to advocate for peace. We know as the YWCA movement, the best way is to say no to war and yes to peace, “ said Gumbonzvanda.