2024 Nobel Peace Prize won by Japanese Organization Nihon Hidankyo
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Loading... - Judy Munyao
- 11 Oct 2024
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The Nihon Hidankyo, an organization of Japanese atomic bomb survivors (Hibakusha) from Hiroshima and Nagasaki, has been awarded the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize. This honor recognizes their tireless efforts in advocating for a nuclear-free world and sharing their harrowing firsthand experiences of the only nuclear attacks in history. By shedding light on the horrors of nuclear warfare, the survivors have been instrumental in promoting global disarmament and warning of the catastrophic consequences of nuclear weapons.
The Norwegian Nobel Committee praised the Hibakusha for their unwavering dedication to achieving a world without nuclear arms, emphasizing how their witness testimonies convey the "indescribable" pain and suffering caused by such weapons. In their citation, the committee remarked on the essential role the survivors play in keeping the memory of these tragedies alive and ensuring nuclear weapons are never used again.
Toshiyuki Mimaki, a co-chair of Nihon Hidankyo and a survivor of the Hiroshima bombing, expressed his disbelief and gratitude upon receiving the news. He stressed that the award would bolster the organization's mission of nuclear disarmament, saying it would help the world realize that abolishing nuclear weapons and achieving lasting peace is possible.
The award also comes at a time when global tensions surrounding nuclear arms are rising. Joergen Watne Frydnes, chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, issued a stern warning to countries possessing nuclear weapons, emphasizing the importance of upholding the international norm against their use. He specifically called attention to the growing threat of nuclear conflict amid modernization of nuclear arsenals and global instability.
This recognition of Nihon Hidankyo arrives as leaders like Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un make nuclear threats amid ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and rising tensions in the Middle East, further underscoring the relevance and urgency of the Hibakusha’s message.
