News

10 December 2024

At a time of deep crisis in global cooperation and governance, the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to Nihon Hidankyo, the organization representing survivors of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki (Hibakusha), is an essential reminder of what is at stake in the world today – and the strength and commitment of activists to ensure a peaceful future that respects the human rights of all.

The Hibakusha overcame adversity – mental, emotional, and physical trauma, stigmatization, and the dominating geopolitics in the post-Cold War order – to deliver a clear message: there is no humanity, and there are no human rights, when a nuclear weapon is used.  As the Hibakusha know too well, the indiscriminate effects of nuclear weapons mean that innocent civilians will inevitably suffer unimaginable and inhumane consequences as a result of their use.

Nihon Hidankyo’s mission to abolish nuclear weapons and ensure no one else suffers their consequences is finally recognized by the Nobel Committee on International Human Rights Day – underlining the fundamentality of peace to the exercising of human rights. In fact, the mere existence of nuclear weapons and the threat of their use have been used to perpetrate human rights violations on a global scale – most recently through Russian president Vladimir Putin’s nuclear sabre rattling around Ukraine and the vague but nonetheless concerning statements of Israeli ministers. At the same time, the deteriorating state of peace on a global level exacerbates nuclear risks, with warnings of a new nuclear arms race underway.

With the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists’ Doomsday Clock at just 90 seconds to midnight, the testimonies of the Hibakusha and tireless work of Nihon Hidankyo to spread awareness and push for the abolition of nuclear weapons is just as – if not more – important than ever. New technologies and increasing expenditure have made nuclear weapons deadlier and more destructive than ever. The call has been strengthened with the recent unanimous approval by UN member states of the Pact for the Future.

Today, as we witness history with the Nobel Peace Prize award ceremony, and as we reflect on the protection of human rights across the globe, it is an occasion for both celebration and deep reflection on the need to strengthen the global movement for nuclear abolition, peace, and global cooperation.

Nihon Hidankyo and the Hibakusha serve as an example of what committed, tireless, and brave peace activism can and must look like in an era of war and division. Let us all join alongside to call for a more peaceful and just future based in human rights and common security.

You can sign the call and find the original call in Spanish here.

On this December 10th, marking the 76th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, we, the individuals and organizations signing this statement, wish to express the following:

1. Our Deep Concern
   We are gravely concerned about the danger and possibility of a nuclear war, a threat that has escalated further following the recent decision by U.S. President Joe Biden to authorize Ukraine to use long-range missiles against Russia.
2. Call for a Ceasefire
   As we have stated before, we urge an immediate ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia, where the United States and NATO countries are actively involved. We call on all parties, including the U.S. and NATO, to engage in peace negotiations aimed at definitively ending hostilities and establishing agreements that affirm the right of all countries to peace and collective security, distancing us from the threat of nuclear war.
3. Global Implications of Nuclear War
   The potential for nuclear war would not only affect Ukraine or Russia but could also devastate all of Europe and the United States. Moreover, it would have catastrophic global consequences, including “nuclear winter,” radioactive contamination, and severe impacts on the environment and public health.
4. Escalation Risks
   The risk of nuclear war is real as hostilities between the U.S., NATO, and Russia escalate. This has prompted governments in Norway, Sweden, and Finland to distribute brochures to their citizens, urging them to prepare for the worst—the possibility of a direct NATO-Russia conflict.
5. The Doomsday Clock Warning
   In 2024, the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists stated, “Today, we have set the Doomsday Clock to 90 seconds to midnight because humanity continues to face an unprecedented level of danger. Our decision should not be interpreted as a sign that international security has improved. On the contrary, leaders and citizens worldwide should take this as a grave warning and respond urgently, as if this were the most dangerous moment in modern history—because it very well could be.” The Doomsday Clock is a symbolic measure of how close humanity is to total annihilation.
6. Nuclear Arms Race
   Over the past decade, we have witnessed a significant increase in nuclear weapons development and maintenance budgets, particularly by the United States, which has also withdrawn from key agreements like the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty, the Open Skies Treaty, the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, and the Iran nuclear deal—all crucial pillars of nuclear arms control. These hostilities have also led countries like Russia, China, and North Korea to expand or upgrade their nuclear arsenals.
7. A Call to Action
   The danger is real, and we are all at risk. We, the signatories of this statement, demand that world leaders, the United Nations, and governments—particularly the United States—make sincere efforts to end the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East through peaceful negotiations. We also urge them to advance a disarmament agenda and work toward the prompt elimination of nuclear weapons.

Finally, in this perilous world, we commend the example set by the Japanese organization Nihon Hidankyo, survivors of the atomic bomb, which was awarded the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize for its efforts to achieve a world free of nuclear weapons.

Click here to sign!