Nihon Hidankyo Awarded 2024 Nobel Peace Prize for Nuclear Disarmament Efforts

Nihon Hidankyo, a prominent Japanese organization comprising atomic bomb survivors, has been honored with the prestigious 2024 Nobel Peace Prize. The announcement was made during a ceremony held on Friday in Oslo, Norway. Joergen Watne Frydnes, Chair of the Nobel Committee, recognized the group’s “extraordinary efforts” in striving towards “a world free of nuclear weapons.”

During his speech, Frydnes highlighted the significant contribution of Nihon Hidankyo in establishing what he termed as the “nuclear taboo,” a concept referring to the strong international norm against the use of nuclear weapons. “Their use of witness testimony has played a crucial role in ensuring that nuclear weapons must never be used again,” he stated.

The Nobel Committee emphasized the importance of Nihon Hidankyo’s work in bearing witness to the catastrophic consequences of nuclear warfare, thereby advocating for global disarmament. This decision underscores the ongoing relevance of nuclear disarmament amid heightened global tensions and conflicts.

In this year’s selection process, the Norwegian Nobel Institute considered 286 candidates for the peace prize. This pool comprised 197 individuals and 89 organizations, all nominated by persons in significant positions of authority. Such authorities include members of national legislative bodies, governments, and international judicial entities.

While Nihon Hidankyo takes the spotlight this year, the narrative follows last year’s laureate, Iranian human rights activist Narges Mohammadi, who was recognized for her relentless fight against the oppression of women in Iran, showcasing the diverse reach of the Nobel Peace Prize across global issues.