We are preparing to hold a largescale “Global Article 9 Conference” in Tokyo, Japan, in May 2008. This conference will bring together the voices of the world in support of the existence and principle of Article 9. Nobel Peace Laureates, intellectuals, cultural figures and NGO activists will gather in Japan, and provide a forum to discuss what the citizens of the world can do to realize the principle of Article 9, through promoting disarmament, demilitarization and a culture of peace. It will aspire to create an international movement for realization of “peace without force.”

The holding of such a conference will be a concrete step in materializing the aim confirmed at the Hague Appeal for Peace Conference in 1999; “Every Parliament should adopt a resolution prohibiting their government from going to war, like the Japanese article number nine.” The endorsement of Article 9 in the World Peace Forum’s final statement, ‘Vancouver Appeal for Peace 2006: Make Peace” has also greatly encouraged our campaign, supporting our ambition to stage a large scale international conference revolving around Article 9.

We aim to attract 10,000 participants, cooperating with a broad range of civil society groups worldwide. We call for your support of, and participation in the conference.