Nihon Hidankyo, a grassroots movement of atomic bomb survivors, receives the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize. Their testimonies and relentless advocacy against nuclear weapons inspire a renewed global call for disarmament

Nihon Hidankyo, the Japanese organisation representing survivors of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, has been awarded the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize for its tireless efforts to rid the world of nuclear weapons. Known as hibakusha, these survivors have dedicated their lives to sharing harrowing testimonies of the devastating human cost of nuclear warfare, ensuring the world remembers the atrocities of August 1945.

In a powerful lecture delivered in Oslo, Terumi Tanaka, co-chair of Nihon Hidankyo and a survivor of the Nagasaki bombing at the age of 13, emphasised the urgency of disarmament.

“It is the heartfelt desire of the hibakusha that, rather than depending on the theory of nuclear deterrence, which assumes the possession and use of nuclear weapons, we must not allow the possession of a single nuclear weapon,” he declared.

The Nobel Committee praised Nihon Hidankyo for its role in establishing the “nuclear taboo” and for demonstrating the inhumanity of nuclear weapons through witness testimony. Chair Joergen Watne Frydnes highlighted the pressing need to uphold this taboo, warning that it is now “under pressure” in the face of rising global tensions.

”Let us work together for a human society, in a world free of nuclear weapons and wars,” urged Terumi Tanaka, Nobel Laureate and Nagasaki survivor, in a historic speech in Oslo

The organisation, founded in 1956, sends survivors across the globe to recount their experiences, fostering empathy and action against nuclear proliferation. Mr Tanaka called on the global community to create opportunities to hear these testimonies, urging nations to universalise the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW).

A TIMELY MESSAGE AMIDST NUCLEAR THREATS

The recognition comes at a time when nuclear risks loom large. Russia’s threats to use tactical nuclear weapons in the Ukraine conflict, coupled with fears over Iran’s nuclear ambitions and Israel’s defensive strategies, underscore the fragility of the nuclear taboo.

Melissa Parke, Executive Director of ICAN, lauded the hibakusha for their pivotal role in advancing the TPNW, adopted in 2017 as a landmark step towards nuclear disarmament.

“Listening to Mr Tanaka describe the horrendous effects on his family and city when the Americans dropped their atomic bomb should convince world leaders they have to go beyond simply congratulating the hibakusha. They must honour them by doing what they have long called for – urgently getting rid of nuclear weapons,” said Ms Parke.

A LEGACY OF RESILIENCE AND ADVOCACY

The hibakusha’s courage and determination have kept the horrors of nuclear warfare at the forefront of global consciousness. Their stories fuel a growing movement for disarmament, reminding the world of the catastrophic consequences of nuclear weapons.

In accepting the Nobel Peace Prize, Nihon Hidankyo reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring such atrocities are never repeated.

“We all have a duty to fulfil the mission of the hibakusha. Their moral compass is our inheritance. It is now our turn,” concluded the Nobel Committee.

As the world grapples with nuclear tensions, the hibakusha’s message resonates louder than ever: “Never again.”