Japanese grassroots organization Nihon Hidankyo was named the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize laureate in Oslo, Norway today “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”.
Nihon Hidankyo is a grassroots movement of survivors of the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945, also known as the “Hibakusha”. Through personal testimonies, the organization raises awareness about the catastrophic devastation caused by nuclear weapons, and campaigns for a world free of them.
The Norwegian Nobel Committee emphasized that Nihon Hidankyo was selected as a reflection of the current state of the world which is marred by escalating war and conflict, and revived threats of nuclear war. Jorgen Watne Frydnes, head of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, stated this year’s prize “is an important reminder of how unacceptable the use of nuclear weapons is. I hope all world leaders take the time to listen to the painful and devastating stories of the Hibakusha, and remember that such weapons should never be used again.”
The committee has previously emphasized nuclear disarmament - the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2017.
Numerous countries possess nuclear weapons. Historically, the United States is the only country to have used nuclear weapons in conflict, with the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945 during World War II. However, recently several countries have issued threats of use, including Russia in its ongoing war of aggression in Ukraine, and North Korea as tensions rise with South Korea. Other nuclear armed states include the UK, France, China, India and Pakistan. Israel is also presumed to possess nuclear weapons.
Additionally, over 2,000 nuclear tests have been conducted worldwide between 1945 and 2017 in the atmosphere, underground, and underwater with devastating effect, leaving land uninhabitable, ecosystems devastated, marine and land life destroyed.
Executive Director of Nobel Women’s Initiative, Maria Butler, comments:
“The Hibakusha are remarkable witnesses and survivors of the worst human cruelty. Their lifelong dedication to ensuring that no one else must endure the unimaginable suffering they faced due to the atomic bombs is deeply inspiring. Yet, the world’s memory of their warnings seems to fade, as we now stand closer to the brink of nuclear war, armed with even more devastating weapons. The Nobel Committee’s decision is both symbolic and urgent, reminding us of our collective responsibility to prevent such atrocities from happening again”.
Women have been at the forefront of anti-nuclear movements since the dawn of the nuclear age. Today’s prize not only honors the Hibakusha but also recognizes the tireless work of Indigenous test survivors and anti-nuclear activists around the world. Nobel Women’s Initiative stands firmly with survivors, advocating for nuclear disarmament and highlighting the profound dangers these weapons, and their testing, pose to humanity and the planet. We emphasize the importance of feminist and gendered perspectives on disarmament. Nuclear weapons are inherently tied to notions of power and dominance, which perpetuate cycles of violence instead of fostering peace and diplomacy.
Founding member of Nobel Women’s Initiative, Jody Williams, has said time and again, that we must always “remember how close to nuclear war we have come, and revive efforts to rid the world of nuclear weapons.”
Nobel Women’s Initiative continues to call for the total elimination of nuclear weapons, recognizing that disarmament is essential for addressing not only security concerns but also the broader global challenges of environmental degradation and social justice. Nobel Women’s Initiative reiterates our support for the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) and urges states, who have not signed and ratified the treaty, to do so.
Nobel Peace Prize laureates of the Nobel Women’s Initiative unite in honoring Nihon Hidankyo for their highly deserved award.
Additional Resources:
- Jody Williams on “Working Together To Make A Nuclear-Free World a Reality”
- WILPF “As Nuclear Tensions Rise, Feminist Antinuclear Campaigners Provide Alternatives Worth Listening to”
- Information about nuclear-armed countries can be found on ICAN, Nobel Peace Prize laureate 2017
- Acheson, R. (2018). The nuclear ban and the patriarchy: a feminist analysis of opposition to prohibiting nuclear weapons. Critical Studies on Security, 7(1), 78–82.
- The nuclear ban and the patriarchy: a feminist analysis of opposition to prohibiting nuclear weapons.
- Overview of TPNW signature and ratification status.
Nobel Women’s Initiative (NWI) is led by eight women Nobel Peace Prize laureates: Jody Williams, Shirin Ebadi, Tawakkol Karman, Leymah Gbowee, Rigoberta Menchu Tum, Maria Ressa, Narges Mohammadi and Oleksandra Matviichuk. At NWI they work together to use the platform and access that the Nobel Peace Prize offers to elevate the voices and support the work of women peace activists.
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