SRINAGAR: The Norwegian Nobel Committee has awarded the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize for 2024 to Nihon Hidankyo, a Japanese grassroots organisation comprised of atomic bomb survivors from Hiroshima and Nagasaki, collectively known as Hibakusha. This honour recognises their tireless efforts to advocate for a world free of nuclear weapons and to prevent the catastrophic use of such weapons in the future.
Nihon Hidankyo has long stood as a powerful voice in the global movement against nuclear weapons, which arose in response to the devastating atomic bomb attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945. Survivors have worked to raise global awareness of the humanitarian impact of nuclear weapons, developing what is now known as “the nuclear taboo”—a strong international norm that stigmatises the use of nuclear weapons as morally unacceptable.
The Hibakusha’s testimonies are uniquely powerful in this broader context. Their personal stories of survival and loss have fuelled international educational campaigns and served as stark warnings against nuclear proliferation. By sharing their experiences of the unimaginable pain and suffering caused by nuclear weapons, these survivors have inspired a global movement, helping to describe the indescribable and grapple with the incomprehensible.
The Norwegian Nobel Committee also highlights the fact that no nuclear weapons have been used in war for nearly 80 years, largely due to the work of Nihon Hidankyo and other advocates of nuclear disarmament. However, they expressed concern over current pressures on the nuclear taboo, with nuclear powers upgrading their arsenals, new nations pursuing nuclear weapons, and threats of use in active conflicts.
Next year marks the 80th anniversary of the bombings that killed an estimated 120,000 people in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, with many more dying from burns and radiation in the years that followed. Modern nuclear weapons, far more destructive than those used in 1945, have the potential to kill millions and cause catastrophic climate damage. The Committee’s statement serves as a reminder of the devastating threat nuclear weapons pose to humanity.
The establishment of Nihon Hidankyo in 1956, alongside survivors of nuclear tests in the Pacific, has given rise to Japan’s largest and most influential Hibakusha organisation. Through witness accounts, public appeals, and international outreach efforts, Nihon Hidankyo has constantly advocated for nuclear disarmament.
As the Hibakusha grow older, their legacy lives on through a culture of remembrance and the commitment of new generations in Japan and worldwide. The Norwegian Nobel Committee’s decision honours the survivors and those working to preserve their stories, ensuring that the nuclear taboo remains intact—a vital precondition for a peaceful future for humanity.
This year’s award firmly aligns with Alfred Nobel’s vision, recognising those who have made a significant contribution to peace through individual and collective action. By honouring Nihon Hidankyo, the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize follows a long tradition of awarding champions of nuclear disarmament and arms control.
