Nihon Hidankyo Wins 2024 Nobel Peace Prize

The Award and Its Significance

• The Norwegian Nobel Committee awarded the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize to Nihon Hidankyo.
• Nihon Hidankyo is a Japanese organization representing survivors of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bombings.
• The award recognizes their efforts to achieve a world free of nuclear weapons.
• It highlights the importance of witness testimony in preventing future use of nuclear weapons.
• The prize comes against a backdrop of ongoing global conflicts, emphasizing the continued relevance of nuclear disarmament.

Nihon Hidankyo: History and Mission

• Founded on August 10, 1956, during the 2nd World Conference against A and H Bombs.
• It is the largest and most influential organization of atomic bomb survivors in Japan.
• Represents Hibakusha (survivors) from all 47 Japanese prefectures.
• As of March 2016, there were 174,080 surviving Hibakusha in Japan.
• Main objectives include preventing nuclear war, seeking state compensation for A-bomb damages, and improving support for survivors.

Impact and Achievements

• Played a crucial role in establishing the global "nuclear taboo" - a moral stigma against using nuclear weapons.
• Provided first-hand accounts of the "incomprehensible pain and suffering" caused by nuclear weapons.
• Contributed to the fact that no nuclear weapons have been used in conflict for nearly 80 years.
• Engaged in international advocacy, including petitioning the UN for a total ban on nuclear weapons in 1975.
• Sent delegations to nuclear weapon states in 1985 to advocate for elimination of nuclear arsenals.
• Received the Peace Summit Award for Social Activism in 2010.

Ongoing Challenges and Future Outlook

• The nuclear taboo is under pressure as countries modernize their arsenals and new threats emerge.
• Ongoing conflicts in Ukraine, Gaza, and Sudan underscore the fragility of global peace.
• The Nobel Committee emphasizes the continued threat posed by nuclear weapons.
• Nihon Hidankyo's work ensures the nuclear taboo is carried forward by future generations.
• New generations in Japan are continuing the Hibakusha's mission to educate about nuclear disarmament and peace.