2024 Nobel Peace Prize Awarded to Nihon Hidankyo for Advocacy Against Nuclear Weapons

 

The 2024 Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded to Nihon Hidankyo, a grassroots organization of atomic bomb survivors from Hiroshima and Nagasaki, for its tireless efforts toward "achieving a world free of nuclear weapons." Nihon Hidankyo was formed in 1956 by local Hibakusha associations and survivors of nuclear tests in the Pacific, uniting under the Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations.

The Norwegian Nobel Committee commended the group for its powerful witness testimonies, which serve as a reminder of the horrors of nuclear warfare. Nihon Hidankyo, composed of survivors of the only nuclear bombs ever used in war, has dedicated decades to advocating for the global abolition of nuclear weapons.

In their announcement, the Nobel Committee emphasized the role of Hibakusha, stating that they "help us to describe the indescribable, think the unthinkable, and understand the incomprehensible pain and suffering caused by nuclear weapons."

Dan Smith, director of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), expressed his joy at the award, pointing to the reminder offered by the Hibakusha of the grave consequences of nuclear war. "As Gorbachev and Reagan said in 1985, nuclear war can never be won and must never be fought," Smith stated.

The atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima by the United States instantly killed around 80,000 people, with hundreds of thousands more dying from radiation-related illnesses, including cancer. Survivors like the Hibakusha have worked tirelessly to ensure that such devastation is never repeated.

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba praised the Nobel Committee's decision, calling it a meaningful recognition of the organization's long-standing work to abolish nuclear weapons.

This is the 105th Nobel Peace Prize awarded since 1901, and Nihon Hidankyo is the 141st laureate. The organization will receive a cash prize of around $1 million. The Nobel Committee stated that its decision aligns with Alfred Nobel's will, which calls for efforts to foster international fraternity, reduce standing armies, and promote peace.

Previous Nobel Peace Prizes related to nuclear disarmament include the 2017 award to the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons and the 1995 award to Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs, along with physicist Joseph Rotblat, the only scientist to leave the Manhattan Project on moral grounds.

In a world where nuclear arsenals remain a pressing concern, the Nobel Committee noted the importance of maintaining the "nuclear taboo," calling it essential for a peaceful future. Despite the nearly 80-year gap since a nuclear weapon was last used in war, SIPRI reports indicate that the nine nuclear-armed nations—comprising the US, Russia, China, and others—are continuing to modernize their arsenals. As of January 2024, there are an estimated 12,121 nuclear warheads globally, with over 9,500 in military stockpiles.

Although the dismantling of Cold War-era weapons continues, the global trend of increasing operational nuclear warheads remains troubling, according to SIPRI. This upward trend is expected to accelerate, raising concerns about the future of global security.