Nobel Prize recognizes voices of Hiroshima and Nagasaki survivors

The recent awarding of the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize to Nihon Hidankyo, a grassroots organisation of atomic bomb survivors from Hiroshima and Nagasaki, highlights the ongoing struggle for nuclear disarmament in an increasingly tense global landscape.

The Norwegian Nobel Committee commended the group for showcasing through personal testimonies that nuclear weapons must never be used again, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.  

Known as Hibakusha, Nihon Hidankyo was established by individuals who witnessed the only two nuclear bombings in history. The survivors have devoted their lives to advocating for nuclear disarmament.  

“The Hibakusha enable us to articulate the inexpressible, confront the unimaginable, and understand the profound pain and suffering inflicted by nuclear arms,” the committee stated during its announcement in Oslo. Dan Smith, the director of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), expressed his happiness to CNN regarding the Hibakusha receiving this year’s Nobel Peace Prize.

He quoted former leaders Gorbachev and Reagan, stating, “As they said in 1985, nuclear war can never be won and must never be fought. The Hibakusha remind us of that truth every day.” He added, “The bombing of Nagasaki marked the second use of a nuclear weapon in warfare—let it be the last!”  

On August 6, 1945, approximately 80,000 people perished instantly when the United States dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima. As co-pilot Robert Lewis of the Enola Gay observed the mushroom cloud rising, he reportedly exclaimed, “My God, what have we done?” Just three days later, a second atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki, resulting in the deaths of around 70,000 individuals. 

In the subsequent years, radiation from the blasts claimed tens of thousands more lives in both cities. ‘Neglected’ survivors The thousands of survivors, many enduring serious injuries and radiation sickness, came to be known as "hibakusha," meaning "bomb-affected people." A specific term, "niju hibakusha," is used to identify the over 160 individuals who experienced both the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings.   “The experiences of those who survived the devastation of Hiroshima and Nagasaki have often been overlooked and ignored,” the committee noted.

In 1956, local hibakusha groups began to unite, leading to the formation of the organization now called Nihon Hidankyo. Over the years, it has gathered thousands of testimonies and sends annual delegations to the United Nations and various peace conferences to advocate for nuclear disarmament.   Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba commended the committee's decision, stating, “It is highly significant that the prize is awarded to an organization that has tirelessly worked for the elimination of nuclear weapons for many years,” during his visit to Laos.

The prize marks the 105th award since 1901, with Nihon Hidankyo being the 141st recipient, set to receive approximately $1 million in cash. The committee emphasized that its decision is "firmly rooted" in Alfred Nobel's will, which specifies three criteria for the award: promoting fraternity among nations, advocating for the abolition or reduction of standing armies, and encouraging peace congresses.  

While the will predates the advent of nuclear weapons, the Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded in the past to individuals and organizations dedicated to nuclear disarmament. Notably, the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons received the prize in 2017, and in 1995, it was awarded to the Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs and physicist Joseph Rotblat, the only scientist to resign from the Manhattan Project at Los Alamos on ethical grounds.

Nuclear taboo now ‘under pressure’ The committee also praised Nihon Hidankyo for its role in upholding the nuclear taboo, which it described as "essential for a peaceful future for humanity." They noted that the decision underscores a positive reality: no nuclear weapons have been used in conflict for nearly 80 years. However, they acknowledged that this year’s award comes at a time when "this taboo against the use of nuclear weapons is facing challenges."  

Jørgen Watne Frydnes, chair of the committee, stated, “The stories and testimonies of the Hibakusha serve as a crucial reminder of the unacceptability of nuclear weapon use.”   In its annual assessment of global armaments, SIPRI reported that the nine countries with nuclear capabilities—namely the US, Russia, the UK, France, China, India, Pakistan, North Korea, and Israel—have been actively modernizing their nuclear arsenals. Several have even deployed new nuclear-armed or nuclear-capable systems in 2023.   As of January 2024, SIPRI estimates that there are 12,121 nuclear warheads worldwide, with approximately 9,585 in military stockpiles ready for potential use.  

"While the overall number of nuclear warheads globally is decreasing as Cold War-era weapons are dismantled, we continue to see an annual rise in the number of operational nuclear warheads," Smith noted. "This trend is likely to persist and may even accelerate in the coming years, which is extremely worrisome." Since launching his full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin has consistently issued threats to the West regarding the potential use of nuclear weapons. Key Western nations, including the US and Germany, have been hesitant to provide specific arms to Kyiv or allow strikes deep into Russian territory due to concerns about nuclear escalation.  

Recently, Putin announced that Russia would revise its nuclear doctrine, which could lower the threshold for the use of nuclear weapons. Henrik Urdal, director of the Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO), commented that the announcement of Friday’s prize “comes at a critical moment as countries are modernizing their nuclear arsenals” and as nuclear threats escalate.   “In a time when automated weapon systems and AI-driven warfare are on the rise, their call for disarmament is not merely historical—it is a vital message for our future,” Urdal emphasized.

By Naila Huseynova