The 2024 Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded to Nihon Hidankyo, a Japanese organization of survivors from the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, for its dedication to creating a nuclear-free world.
Established in 1956, Nihon Hidankyo—comprising Hibakusha (atomic bomb survivors) and victims of nuclear tests in the Pacific—has worked tirelessly to raise awareness about the devastating effects of nuclear weapons.
The Norwegian Nobel Committee honored the group for its efforts, highlighting its use of personal testimony to underscore the horrors of nuclear warfare and why such weapons should never be used again.
“The Hibakusha help us understand the unimaginable pain caused by nuclear weapons,” the committee noted during its announcement in Oslo.
Nihon Hidankyo is the 141st laureate to receive the Nobel Peace Prize since its inception in 1901. The award includes a cash prize of approximately $1 million. The committee stated that its decision aligns with the intentions of Alfred Nobel’s will, which advocates for the promotion of peace and disarmament.
The survivors’ stories serve as a powerful reminder of the catastrophic effects of nuclear weapons, with the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki killing thousands instantly and many more later due to radiation-related illnesses.
Dan Smith, director of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), welcomed the recognition, emphasizing that the Hibakusha’s ongoing advocacy keeps alive the message that nuclear war must never happen again.
The Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded to other nuclear disarmament efforts in the past, including the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons in 2017 and the Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs in 1995.
This year’s award also draws attention to the ongoing risks posed by nuclear weapons, with SIPRI estimating that there are still over 12,000 nuclear warheads worldwide as of January 2024.
In his acceptance speech, Nihon Hidankyo’s leadership reiterated their call for a nuclear-free future, reminding the world of the grave responsibility to prevent future nuclear devastation.
