'A wake-up call to the world' - Japan's atomic bomb survivors group gets peace Nobel | DW News

The Norwegian Nobel Committee on Friday named Japanese anti-nuclear organization Nihon Hidankyo, a grassroots movement of atomic bomb survivors from Hiroshima and Nagasaki, as the winner of the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize.

The aging survivors of the two nuclear detonations, known as "hibakusha," continue to campaign for a nuclear arms ban as they push to keep alive their efforts among younger generations.

As it made the announcement, the Nobel committee warned of growing concerns as "new countries appear to be prepared to acquire nuclear weapons."

Responding to a question about whether rhetoric from Russia about the use of nuclear weapons had influenced the decision, Watne Frydnes said such threats put pressure on the norm of non-use.

"It is alarming to see how threats of use is also damaging this norm. To uphold an international strong taboo against the use is crucial for all of humanity," he added.

Toshiyuki Mimaki, the co-head of Nihon Hidankyo, expressed his surprise at being given the award.

"Never did I dream this could happen," Mimaki told reporters with tears in his eyes. He said the win would be "a great force to appeal to the world that the abolition of nuclear weapons and everlasting peace can be achieved."

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said the award was "extremely meaningful."

We spoke to Carlos Umaña the co-president of the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW) that was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1985. He is also part of the International Steering Group of ICAN, the International Campaign for the Abolition of Nuclear Weapons that wone the peace prize in 2017.

Disarmament expert Xanthe Hall, head of the German affiliate of the IPPNW and founder member of Germany's ICAN affiliate, also joined us.

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