Japanese atomic bomb survivors' group Nihon Hidankyo awarded 2024 Nobel Peace Prize
Japanese organisation Nihon Hidankyo has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize 2024 for its efforts to achieve a world free of nuclear weapons.
The Norwegian Nobel Committee has awarded the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize to Nihon Hidankyo, a Japanese organisation representing survivors of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The group was honoured for its work in advocating for a nuclear-free world and for its powerful witness testimony on the horrors of nuclear warfare.
Formed in 1956, Nihon Hidankyo is the largest and most influential organisation of atomic bomb survivors in Japan. Its mission has been to raise global awareness of the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of nuclear weapons. By sharing their personal stories of the devastation they experienced in August 1945, the Hibakusha – the survivors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki – have helped shape the international “nuclear taboo,” a powerful norm stigmatising the use of nuclear arms as morally unacceptable.
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The Nobel Committee praised Nihon Hidankyo for their unwavering efforts to generate and sustain global opposition to nuclear weapons, noting 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.
{{/usCountry}}"The Hibakusha help us to describe the indescribable, to think the unthinkable," the Committee said in its announcement.
{{/usCountry}}Despite nearly 80 years passing since the bombings, nuclear weapons continue to pose a global threat. The prize is also a stark reminder of the growing threats to global peace. The committee noted that nuclear arsenals are being modernised, and the norm against their use is under pressure as new threats emerge.
{{/usCountry}}Despite nearly 80 years passing since the bombings, nuclear weapons continue to pose a global threat. The prize is also a stark reminder of the growing threats to global peace. The committee noted that nuclear arsenals are being modernised, and the norm against their use is under pressure as new threats emerge.
{{/usCountry}}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.
{{/usCountry}}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.
{{/usCountry}}“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.
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Next year will mark 80 years since the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, which killed an estimated 120,000 people instantly, with thousands more succumbing to injuries and radiation exposure in the years that followed. The Hibakusha’s stories, delivered through witness accounts, public appeals, and annual delegations to the United Nations, have played a crucial role in advancing nuclear disarmament efforts.
“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 said.
