Nihon Hidankyo, a Japanese organisation composed of survivors of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for 2024. The group received recognition from the Norwegian Nobel Committee for its long-standing efforts to advance nuclear disarmament and prevent the use of nuclear weapons in the future.

The Hibakusha, or survivors of the 1945 atomic bombings, are represented by Nihon Hidankyo, a group founded in 1956. These survivors have been educating the world about the horrifying effects of nuclear warfare on humanity for nearly 70 years. The organisation's efforts have played a significant role in creating and upholding the "nuclear taboo," a worldwide custom that denigrates the use of nuclear weapons. 

Nihon Hidankyo has influenced public opinion and policy talks on nuclear disarmament through witness testimony, educational initiatives, and lobbying at international fora. The Nobel Committee's choice is made at a pivotal moment when nuclear power tensions are rising and the likelihood of nuclear war is growing. Members of the committee voiced concern over the ongoing modernisation of the nuclear arsenal and the threats to employ such weapons in the ongoing conflicts.

The Nobel Prize for this year serves as a sobering reminder of the devastation that nuclear weapons can cause. An estimated 120,000 people were killed instantly by the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and thousands more perished months and years later from radiation poisoning and other wounds.

The importance of Nihon Hidankyo's work increases with the ageing of the Hibakusha population. The organisation strives to make sure that survivors' stories and their message of peace are passed on to future generations.