The 2024 Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Nihon Hidankyo, a Japanese organization that consists of survivors from the U.S. atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The award was given in recognition of the organization’s decades-long activism against nuclear weapons. The chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, Jørgen Watne Frydnes, highlighted the growing pressure on the taboo against the use of nuclear weapons as a factor in their decision to award the prize. The committee aimed to honor all survivors who, despite their suffering, have chosen to advocate for peace.
Efforts to eliminate nuclear weapons have been previously recognized by the Nobel committee, with awards given to organizations such as the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons in 2017 and individuals like Joseph Rotblat and the Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs in 1995. This year’s award comes amidst ongoing global conflicts, including those in the Middle East, Ukraine, and Sudan. Frydnes emphasized the importance of upholding the international norm against the use of nuclear weapons, especially in light of recent threats made by countries like Russia during the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Alfred Nobel’s will specified criteria for awarding the peace prize, including recognizing those who work for peace between nations, the reduction of standing armies, and the promotion of peace congresses. Last year’s peace prize was awarded to jailed Iranian activist Narges Mohammadi for her advocacy of women’s rights, democracy, and opposition to the death penalty. Despite speculation that the Norwegian Nobel Committee might decide not to award a peace prize this year due to global conflict, they continued their tradition of recognizing individuals and organizations dedicated to peace.
The Nobel Prizes carry a cash award of 11 million Swedish kronor ($1 million), with the peace prize uniquely being awarded in Oslo by the five-member Norwegian Nobel Committee. The Nobel season concludes with the announcement of the winner of the economics prize, formally known as the Bank of Sweden Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel. In a year marked by international conflict, the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to Nihon Hidankyo highlights the ongoing importance of advocating for nuclear disarmament and peace in the face of global challenges.
