The Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Nihon Hidankyo, a Japanese anti-nuclear organization comprised of atomic bomb survivors from Hiroshima and Nagasaki, known as Hibakusha.
Founded in 1956, the group was recognized for its dedication to creating a nuclear weapon-free world and for its powerful witness testimonies that highlight the catastrophic consequences of nuclear warfare, according to Jorgen Watne Frydnes, chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, during the announcement in Oslo.
The Nobel committee voiced concerns over the increasing challenges to the longstanding global nuclear taboo, which emerged following the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945. The ongoing war in Ukraine has raised alarm over the potential use of nuclear weapons, particularly after Russia indicated its intention to reassess its nuclear doctrine.
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba called the award ‘deeply significant’. The committee also pointed out that next year marks the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombings that killed approximately 1,20,000 people in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, with many more suffering from radiation-related injuries.
Last year, the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Narges Mohammadi, an imprisoned Iranian activist fighting against the oppression of women. This year, 286 candidates were nominated for the prize, including 197 individuals and 89 organizations, though the committee keeps the names confidential for 50 years. As reported by ibtimes.com, unlike the other Nobel Prizes, which are awarded in Stockholm, the Peace Prize is presented in Oslo.
