The Japanese organisation Nihon Hidankyo, a grassroots movement of atomic bomb survivors from Hiroshima and Nagasaki, has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for 2023. The award recognises their lifelong commitment to advocating for a nuclear-free world and serves as a stern warning to nuclear-armed nations against the use of such devastating weapons.
Recognising Efforts For Nuclear Disarmament
Nihon Hidankyo, also known as the Hibakusha, is a group made up of survivors who witnessed the only two nuclear bombings in history. The group has been a powerful voice for nuclear disarmament and has dedicated its efforts to ensuring that the horrors of nuclear warfare are never repeated.
“Hibakusha is receiving the Peace Prize for its efforts to achieve a world free of nuclear weapons and for demonstrating through witness testimony that nuclear weapons must never be used again,” the Norwegian Nobel Committee stated in its citation.
The committee highlighted the organisation’s significant role in shaping the global understanding of the catastrophic impacts of nuclear weapons. “The Hibakusha help us to describe the indescribable, to think the unthinkable, and to somehow grasp the incomprehensible pain and suffering caused by nuclear weapons,” the committee added.
A Symbolic Victory For Nuclear Survivors
Speaking at a press conference in Hiroshima, Nihon Hidankyo co-chair Toshiyuki Mimaki expressed deep emotion upon hearing the news. Mimaki, a survivor of the 1945 Hiroshima bombing, said, “I can’t believe it’s real,” while holding back tears. He emphasised that the award would give a major boost to their campaign and help show the world that the abolition of nuclear weapons is possible.
“This win will be a great force to appeal to the world that the abolition of nuclear weapons and everlasting peace can be achieved,” Mimaki said. “Nuclear weapons should absolutely be abolished.”
A Warning To Nuclear Nations
The Nobel Committee used the occasion to issue a stark warning to countries possessing nuclear weapons. Joergen Watne Frydnes, chair of the committee, called on nuclear nations to reconsider their stance on these weapons, given their catastrophic potential.
“Today’s nuclear weapons have far greater destructive power. They can kill millions and would impact the climate catastrophically,” Frydnes said. “A nuclear war could destroy our civilisation.”
He commended Nihon Hidankyo for their efforts to uphold what he described as the “nuclear taboo” and expressed concern over the increasing global threats related to nuclear weapons.
A Timely Message Amid Rising Global Tensions
The award comes at a time of heightened tensions between major nuclear powers, including the United States, China, and Russia. The prize serves as a reminder of the potential devastation that could result from any use of nuclear weapons. Dan Smith, head of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, noted that the current state of US-China and US-Russia relations is the “most toxic” since the end of the Cold War.
“If there is a military conflict, there is a risk of it escalating to nuclear weapons. Nihon Hidankyo is really an important voice to remind us about the destructive nature of nuclear weapons,” Smith stated.
The Nobel Committee has frequently focused on the issue of nuclear weapons in the past. The 2017 Peace Prize, for example, was awarded to the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) for its efforts in advocating for the global prohibition of nuclear arms.
Nihon Hidankyo’s Nobel Peace Prize win also marks a significant moment in the lead-up to the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 2025. The prize draws attention not only to the suffering endured by the survivors but also to the urgent need to prevent any future use of nuclear weapons.
The Nobel Peace Prize, worth 11 million Swedish crowns (about $1 million), will be presented in Oslo on December 10, commemorating the anniversary of Alfred Nobel’s death, the founder of the prestigious awards.
(With inputs from Reuters)
