On Friday, October 11, 2024, the Norwegian Nobel Committee announced that the Japanese atomic bomb survivors’ group, Nihon Hidankyo, has won the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize. This award recognizes the group’s tireless efforts to achieve a world free of nuclear weapons.
Nihon Hidankyo, commonly known as Hibakusha, is a grassroots movement composed of survivors of the atomic bombings in Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. The group has been instrumental in sharing personal testimonies to illustrate the devastating effects of nuclear weapons and to advocate for their abolition. Jorgen Watne Frydnes, the chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, highlighted that the award honors the group’s work in “demonstrating through witness testimony that nuclear weapons must never be used again.”
The committee praised the organization for its role in establishing a nuclear taboo, which is seen as crucial for a peaceful future for humanity. However, they also noted with concern that this taboo is currently under pressure due to the modernization and enhancement of nuclear weaponry by nuclear-armed nations and the potential for new states to acquire nuclear capabilities.
The Nobel Peace Prize includes a monetary award of 11 million Swedish krona (approximately $1.1 million) and a medal, which will be presented during the ceremony on December 10. This year’s award was chosen from a total of 286 candidates, comprising 197 individuals and 89 organizations.
The recognition of Nihon Hidankyo’s work comes at a time when the world is facing significant conflicts, including those in the Middle East, Ukraine, and Sudan. The committee emphasized the importance of remembering the nature of nuclear weapons and the suffering they inflict, especially as the survivors who can recount their experiences are dwindling in number.
