BBCNihon Hidankyo, a Japanese group of atomic bomb survivors, has received the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize.
Often called hibakusha, the survivors of the 1945 bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki have been recognised by the Norwegian Nobel Committee for efforts to rid the world of nuclear weapons.
Nobel Committee Chair Joergen Watne Frydnes mentioned the group had “contributed greatly to the establishment of the nuclear taboo”.
Mr Frydnes warned the “nuclear taboo” was now “under pressure” – and praised the group’s use of witness testimony to make sure nuclear weapons mustn’t ever be used once more.
Based in 1956, the organisation sends survivors around the globe to share their testimonies of the “atrocious damage” and struggling prompted by way of nuclear weapons, in keeping with its web site.
Their work started virtually a decade after the devastation of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
The group has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize “many times” previously, together with in 2005 when it acquired a particular point out by the Norwegian Nobel Committee, its web site says.
On 6 August 1945, a US bomber dropped the uranium bomb above the town of Hiroshima, killing round 140,000 folks.
Three days later a second nuclear weapon was dropped on Nagasaki. Two weeks later Japan surrendered, ending World Conflict Two.
Chatting with reporters in Japan, a tearful Toshiyuki Mimaki, the co-head of the group, mentioned: “Never did I dream this could happen,” the AFP information company quotes him as saying.
Mr Mimaki criticised the concept that nuclear weapons convey peace. “It has been said that because of nuclear weapons, the world maintains peace. But nuclear weapons can be used by terrorists,” Mr Mimaki mentioned, in keeping with experiences by AFP.
In a BBC interview final 12 months, he mentioned regardless of solely being three years outdated on the time the nuclear bomb hit Hiroshima – he may nonetheless bear in mind dazed and burnt survivors fleeing previous his dwelling.
The prize – which include a diploma, a gold medal and a sum of $1m (£765,800) – shall be introduced at a ceremonies in Oslo in December, marking the anniversary of the demise of the scientist and prize creator Alfred Nobel.
GettyThe choice to recognise Nihon Hidankyo means the Nobel committee has steered away from extra controversial nominees for the peace prize.
There had been widespread hypothesis the United Nations company supporting Palestinians – UNRWA – was being thought of for the prize.
Though the organisation is the principle supplier of humanitarian assist to civilians in Gaza, 9 of its members have been fired for alleged involvement within the Hamas assault on Israel on October 7 final 12 months.
Greater than 12,000 folks had signed a petition urging the committee to not award UNRWA the prize.
There have been equal issues in regards to the nomination of the Worldwide Court docket of Justice.
The UN’s major judicial organ is at present contemplating allegations that Israel has dedicated genocide in Gaza and has already issued a press release urging the Israeli authorities to chorus from genocidal acts.
However whereas giving the prize to Nihon Hidankyo could also be a non-controversial selection, it may additionally focus international consideration on the specter of nuclear battle which overshadows the combating in each Ukraine and the Center East.
All through Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, its leaders have repeatedly hinted that they could be prepared to make use of tactical nuclear weapons if western allies enhance their help for Ukraine in a means Russia considers unacceptable.
These threats have succeeded in restraining western help for worry of escalation.
Within the Center East, the subtext for a lot of Israel’s technique is the worry that Iran is searching for nuclear functionality, one thing Tehran denies.
The Nobel committee’s determination might renew a debate about using nuclear weapons at a time when some international locations look enviously at their deterring energy.
This 12 months’s peace prize had 286 nominations, a quantity comprising 197 people and 89 organisations.
Nominations might be made by folks in positions of great authority, together with members of nationwide assemblies, governments and worldwide courts of regulation.
Iranian human rights activist Narges Mohammadi received the prize in 2023, when she was honoured for her work combating the oppression of girls in Iran.
Ms Mohammadi is at present being held in Evin jail in Tehran, having already spent 12 years in jail serving a number of sentences associated to her activism.
