Nihon Hidankyo, a Japanese organization representing survivors of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, has been awarded with the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize.
Nihon Hidankyo was recognized for its work in advocating for a nuclear-free world and for its powerful witness testimony on the horrors of nuclear warfare.
Founded in 1956, Nihon Hidankyo is the largest and most influential organization of atomic bomb survivors in Japan.
The group has been busy raising awareness globally on the catastrophic consequences of nuclear weapons.
They do it by sharing personal stories of the affected people those who were attacked in August 1945, the Hibakusha – the survivors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki – have helped shape the international “nuclear taboo,” a powerful norm stigmatizing the use of nuclear arms as morally unacceptable.
Nihon Hidankyo was praised for its unwavering efforts to generate and sustain global opposition to nuclear weapons by the Nobel Committee.
It noted that their testimony has provided a unique, first-hand understanding of the incomprehensible pain and suffering caused by such weapons.
“The Hibakusha help us to describe the indescribable, to think the unthinkable,” the Committee said in its announcement.
Despite nearly 80 years passing since the bombings, nuclear weapons continue to pose a serious global threat.
The prize is also a stark reminder of the growing threats to global peace with conflicts and wars on in different parts of the world.
It noted that the nuclear arsenals are being modernized, and the norm against their use is under pressure as new threats emerge.
The war in Ukraine, triggered by Russia’s invasion, continues into its third year, with massive loss of life. In Gaza, a conflict that erupted in October 2023 has already killed over 42,000 people, with escalating violence across the region. Sudan, too, is grappling with a deadly 17-month war that has displaced millions.
“At this moment in human history, it is worth reminding ourselves what nuclear weapons are: the most destructive weapons the world has ever seen,” the statement added.
“In awarding this year’s Nobel Peace Prize to Nihon Hidankyo, the Norwegian Nobel Committee wishes to honors all survivors who, despite physical suffering and painful memories, have chosen to use their costly experience to cultivate hope and engagement for peace,” it was quoted as saying.
