The 2024 Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Nihon Hidankyo, a Japanese organization of survivors of the U.S. atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, for their activism against nuclear weapons. This decision comes at a time when the taboo against the use of nuclear weapons is under threat, as seen in Russian President Vladimir Putin’s recent announcement of a shift in his country’s nuclear doctrine. The award was intended to honor all survivors who have used their painful experiences to cultivate hope and engagement for peace, according to Jørgen Watne Frydnes, chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee. Efforts to eradicate nuclear weapons have been recognized in the past by the Nobel committee, such as the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons in 2017 and Joseph Rotblat and the Pugwash Conferences in 1995.
The backdrop of devastating conflicts in the Middle East, Ukraine, and Sudan highlighted the urgent need for action against the use of nuclear weapons. Threats of using nuclear weapons are putting pressure on the international norm against their use, with recent rhetoric from Russia in its invasion of Ukraine further endangering this norm. The Nobel Peace Prize was seen as a powerful message to protect future generations from the horrors of nuclear war. The prize’s criteria, established by Alfred Nobel, include awarding it for work that promotes peace, fraternity between nations, and the abolition or reduction of standing armies.
Last year’s prize was awarded to Iranian activist Narges Mohammadi for her advocacy of women’s rights and democracy, and against the death penalty, as well as a recognition of those who protested against Iran’s discriminatory policies. The decision to award the prize this year came amid speculation about whether it would be withheld due to ongoing conflicts. The war and violence in the Middle East have resulted in tens of thousands of deaths, primarily affecting civilians, with escalating conflicts involving various groups such as Hamas, Hezbollah, and Israel. The war in Ukraine, sparked by Russia’s invasion, has led to a massive loss of life on both sides, with tens of thousands of Ukrainians believed to have been killed.
The Nobel prizes, including the Peace Prize, come with a cash award of 11 million Swedish kronor ($1 million). Unlike the other Nobel prizes, which are decided and announced in Stockholm, the Peace Prize is awarded in Oslo by the five-member Norwegian Nobel Committee. This year’s Nobel season will conclude with the announcement of the winner of the economics prize, known as the Bank of Sweden Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel. The decision to award the Peace Prize to Nihon Hidankyo highlights the ongoing importance of advocating for peace and disarmament in a world where the threat of nuclear weapons remains a significant concern.
