Survivors of Chemical Weapons from Tehran Peace Museum Onboard Peace Boat

 


Five volunteer guides of Tehran Peace Museum (TPM) joined Peace Boat as the first victims of chemical weapons ever onboard. The team embarked in the Greece on 10th of May 2017 and disembarked on May 15th. During this voyage, they participated in several programs including meeting with Hibakushas, presentation for the passengers and testimony for students in Valencia university.

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During this voyage, they met with the survivors of atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki (Hibakushas). In this meeting both sides shared their personal experiences of being exposed to weapons of mass destruction and emphasized on the necessity of elimination of all forms chemical and nuclear weapons.


While on board, these survivors of chemical weapons delivered a presentation for the passengers in which they talked about the use of chemical weapons against Iran, how they were exposed and the consequences of the use of such weapons as well as their current activities in TPM as volunteer guides. The session in which more than 200 passengers attended, was welcomed and finished with questions and answers.

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In an event held in Valencia University on May 15th, one of the Iranian chemical warfare survivors gave testimony on the use of chemical weapons against Iran during Iran- Iraq war and introduced the TPM's activities on awareness raising and promoting a culture of peace as a way to deal with the past. This event aimed at Raising awareness among students and general public about the humanitarian impact of weapons and the consequences of war. It also included Peace Boat Introduction, a Hibakusha's testimony and a round table on analysis and debate on armed conflicts and weapons.
Peace Boat is a Japan-based international non-governmental and non-profit organization that works to promote peace, human rights, equal and sustainable development and respect for the environment since 1983. It has the consultative status of United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).

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In order to expand the bilateral cooperation between TPM and Peace Boat and providing the space for dialogue on the facts regarding the massive use of chemical weapons against Iran during Iran-Iraq war (1980-1988), a group of survivors of chemical weapons were invited to join Peace Boat's 94th Global Voyage.


To know more about Peace Boat, please refer to its website here.