The Japanese organization Nihon Hidankyo, representing atomic bomb survivors from Hiroshima and Nagasaki, has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for its efforts to promote a nuclear-free world, Reuters reports.
The Nobel Committee highlighted the importance of the testimonies from the group’s hibakusha members (survivors of the bombings), which emphasizes the profound pain and suffering caused by nuclear weapons. Nihon Hidankyo co-chair Toshiyuki Mimaki expressed hope that the award would amplify the call for nuclear disarmament.
The committee warned nuclear-armed nations against considering the use of atomic weapons, emphasizing the need to strengthen the international norm against their use. The announcement comes amid escalating tensions involving nuclear threats from countries like Russia and North Korea, as well as concerns about Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
The award, marked the second Nobel Peace Prize for a Japanese recipient, following former Japanese Prime Minister Eisaku Sato in 1974. The prize, valued at approximately $1 million, will be presented in Oslo on December 10.
