Fri Oct 11 10:43:46 UTC 2024: ## Atomic Bomb Survivors Group Wins Nobel Peace Prize
**Oslo, Norway** – Nihon Hidankyo, the Japanese organization of atomic bomb survivors, has been awarded the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize. The Norwegian Nobel Committee recognized the group for its tireless efforts to rid the world of nuclear weapons.
The committee praised Nihon Hidankyo for their powerful witness testimonies that have contributed to the establishment of a global nuclear taboo. Committee Chair Joergen Watne Frydnes expressed concern that this taboo is currently under pressure, emphasizing the group’s critical role in ensuring nuclear weapons are never used again.
Founded in 1956, Nihon Hidankyo sends survivors around the world to share their harrowing experiences of the devastating bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. Their work, which began nearly a decade after the bombings, aims to raise awareness about the catastrophic consequences of nuclear weapons and advocate for their complete abolition.
Toshiyuki Mimaki, co-head of Nihon Hidankyo, expressed his disbelief and emotion at the award. He criticized the notion that nuclear weapons bring peace, stating, “It has been said that because of nuclear weapons, the world maintains peace. But nuclear weapons can be used by terrorists.”
This year’s Nobel Peace Prize selection comes amidst controversy surrounding other potential nominees, including the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNWRA) and the International Court of Justice. However, the committee ultimately chose to honor Nihon Hidankyo for their unwavering commitment to nuclear disarmament and their powerful voices against the horrors of nuclear war.
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