The Norwegian Nobel Committee in Oslo has announced the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize for 2024, the Japanese organisation Nihon Hidankyo, which brings together survivors of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The organisation was awarded the prize for its tireless work to create a world free of nuclear weapons and for its important contribution to spreading the word about the horrific consequences of nuclear war.
Also known as the Hibakusha movement, Nihon Hidankyo gives a voice to the survivors of the atomic attacks of August 1945 and calls on the world to prevent a repeat of this tragedy. Their testimonies have shaped a global moral norm known as the ‘nuclear taboo’, which condemns the use of nuclear weapons as unacceptable from a humanitarian and ethical perspective.
The testimony of the Hibakusha has been instrumental in building global opposition to nuclear weapons. Their personal stories, educational campaigns, and constant warnings became an integral part of the nuclear disarmament movement, which ultimately helped stop the use of nuclear weapons for almost 80 years.
In its statement, the Nobel Committee emphasised that although nuclear weapons have not been used in wars since World War II, the ‘nuclear taboo’ is now under threat. The Committee expressed concern that current international tensions could undermine these moral barriers.
The US nuclear bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945 remain a tragic example of the destructive power of nuclear weapons. These events became a catalyst for the global movement for nuclear disarmament, which is now being continued through the efforts of Hibakusha and other international initiatives.
