LONDON — Nihon Hidankyo, a Japanese anti-nuclear weapons group, has won the Nobel Peace Prize for their work toward the abolition of nuclear weapons.
“This grassroots movement of atomic bomb survivors from Hiroshima and Nagasaki, also known as Hibakusha, is receiving the Peace Prize for its efforts to achieve a world free of nuclear weapons and for demonstrating through witness testimony that nuclear weapons must never be used again,” the Norwegian Nobel Committee said in their announcement.
“In response to the atomic bomb attacks of August 1945, a global movement arose whose members have worked tirelessly to raise awareness about the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of using nuclear weapons,” the committee said in their announcement early Friday morning. “Gradually, a powerful international norm developed, stigmatizing the use of nuclear weapons as morally unacceptable. This norm has become known as “the nuclear taboo.'”
The Norwegian Nobel Committee said that the testimony of the Hibakusha, who are the survivors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, is unique in this larger context and that their perspective helps to “generate and consolidate widespread opposition to nuclear weapons around the world by drawing on personal stories, creating educational campaigns based on their own experience, and issuing urgent warnings against the spread and use of nuclear weapons.”
However, the committee warned that global nuclear powers are “modernizing and upgrading” their arsenals, all while new countries are appearing to acquire nuclear weapons.
Assistant Secretary General of Nihon Hidankyo and atomic bomb survivor Masako Wada arrives to attends a conference on nuclear disarmament, at the Vatican, Friday, Nov. 10, 2017. Ninon Hidankyo has been awarded the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize.
AP Photo/Andrew Medichini, File
“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 committee said.
“The core of Alfred Nobel’s vision was the belief that committed individuals can make a difference. In awarding this year’s Nobel Peace Prize to Nihon Hidankyo, the Norwegian Nobel Committee wishes to honour all survivors who, despite physical suffering and painful memories, have chosen to use their costly experience to cultivate hope and engagement for peace,” the committee continued.
The Nobel Committee also said that Nihon Hidankyo has provided “thousands of witness accounts, issued resolutions and public appeals, and sent annual delegations to the United Nations and a variety of peace conferences to remind the world of the pressing need for nuclear disarmament.”
“The decision to award the Nobel Peace Prize for 2024 to Nihon Hidankyo is securely anchored in Alfred Nobel’s will,” the committee concluded. “This year’s prize joins a distinguished list of Peace Prizes that the Committee has previously awarded to champions of nuclear disarmament and arms control. The Nobel Peace Prize for 2024 fulfils Alfred Nobel’s desire to recognise efforts of the greatest benefit to humankind.”
The Nobel Peace Prize is one of the most prestigious awards in the world, given to individuals or organizations that have made significant contributions to promoting peace and resolving conflicts. This year, the Nihon Hidankyo, or the Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations, has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for their tireless efforts in advocating for the abolition of nuclear weapons.
Nihon Hidankyo is a coalition of various groups representing survivors of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki during World War II. These survivors, known as hibakusha, have dedicated their lives to raising awareness about the devastating effects of nuclear weapons and advocating for their elimination.
The organization has been at the forefront of the global movement to ban nuclear weapons, working with governments, international organizations, and civil society groups to push for disarmament and non-proliferation. Their advocacy efforts have played a crucial role in shaping international discourse on nuclear weapons and putting pressure on nuclear-armed states to take concrete steps towards disarmament.
One of Nihon Hidankyo’s key achievements is their involvement in the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, which was adopted by the United Nations in 2017. The treaty prohibits the development, testing, production, stockpiling, stationing, transfer, use, and threat of use of nuclear weapons, marking a significant step towards a world free of nuclear weapons.
The Nobel Peace Prize recognizes Nihon Hidankyo’s unwavering commitment to peace and their dedication to ensuring that the horrors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki are never repeated. By honoring the organization with this prestigious award, the Nobel Committee hopes to shine a spotlight on the urgent need for nuclear disarmament and inspire others to join the movement for a nuclear-free world.
In their acceptance speech, representatives from Nihon Hidankyo expressed gratitude for the recognition and emphasized the importance of continuing their work towards a world without nuclear weapons. They called on all nations to uphold their commitments to disarmament and urged world leaders to prioritize peace and security over militarization.
The awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to Nihon Hidankyo is a powerful reminder of the devastating consequences of nuclear weapons and the urgent need for global action to eliminate them. It is a testament to the resilience and determination of hibakusha survivors and a call to action for all individuals and governments to work together towards a more peaceful and secure world.
