Japan’s atomic bomb survivors receive Nobel Peace Prize 2024

The Japanese organisation Nihon Hidankyo, established for the victims of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, was awarded the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize on Friday for its efforts to discourage the use of nuclear weapons globally.

Founded in 1956, ten years after the devastating atomic bombings, Nihon Hidankyo was created to share the testimonies of survivors from Hiroshima and Nagasaki and to raise awareness about the catastrophic consequences of nuclear warfare.

The organisation’s primary goal has been to pressure the Japanese government to rehabilitate and care for atomic bomb survivors and to lobby for the worldwide abolition of nuclear weapons.

According to the Norwegian Nobel Committee, Nihon Hidankyo has "greatly contributed to the establishment of the nuclear taboo."

The group has worked tirelessly to ensure that nuclear weapons are never used again by presenting atomic bomb survivors as witnesses to the devastation caused. 

These survivors travel to different countries, educating people about the disastrous impact nuclear bombs have on both human life and the environment.

The Nobel Peace Prize comes with a financial reward of $1.1 million, and the winners will be presented with a certificate and gold medal on December 10, the anniversary of Alfred Nobel’s death.

On August 9, 1945, the US dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima, killing 140,000 people, followed by a second bomb on Nagasaki three days later, which ultimately led to Japan's surrender and the end of World War II.

This year, 286 candidates were nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, including 197 individuals and 89 organisations.

Some of the favourites for the 2024 prize included the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), and the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

However, the Nobel committee reportedly received 12,000 petitions opposing the award being given to UNRWA, citing alleged connections between some of its members and the Palestinian resistance group Hamas.

The ICJ is currently hearing a genocide case against Israel, and to avoid potential controversy, the Nobel committee opted for a less contentious choice.

Last year, imprisoned Iranian women's rights lawyer Narges Mohammadi won the 2023 Nobel Peace Prize for her fight against women's oppression in Iran.