The tireless efforts of Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations (Nihon Hidankyo) in advocating for the abolition of nuclear weapons have been recognized with the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize. This comes as next year marks the 80th anniversary since atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. While testimonies from atomic bomb survivors, known as hibakusha, have provided valuable insights, concerns are growing over the proliferation and threat posed by nuclear arms.
Jorgen Watne Frydnes, chairman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, stated that the upcoming anniversary played a role in awarding Hidankyo with the prize. He emphasized that modern nuclear weapons possess far greater destructive power and warned that a nuclear war could lead to civilization’s annihilation.
The Nobel Peace Prize has previously been awarded to individuals and organizations advocating for nuclear abolition. In 1985, it was given to International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War. The “Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs” founders received it in 1995, followed by U.S. President Barack Obama in 2009 for his call for a world without nuclear weapons. In 2017, the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), a coalition of civil society organizations promoting nuclear disarmament, won the prize.
These repeated awards reflect the Nobel Prize Committee’s recognition of an urgent crisis: another use of a nuclear weapon could result in global destruction.
However, achieving global nuclear abolition remains distant for now. Despite limitations set by the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT) on possession to five countries – United States, United Kingdom, France China, and Russia – reality tells a different story.
According to a report from Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), India, Pakistan Israel,and North Korea also possess nuclear warheads alongside these five nations. This brings up nine countries possessing such weapons with an estimated total number reaching 12,121 warheads globally.
Russia holds approximately 5,580 warheads while United States possesses around 5,o44 making up nearly ninety percent of global stockpile.China has increased its arsenal rapidly over recent years owning about500 warheads which is an increase from previous year’s count.North Korea also saw an increase from last year with50warheads
SIPRI predicts that within ten years China will have almost as many intercontinental ballistic missiles(ICBMs)as both US & Russia combined.In Middle East former US President Donald Trump withdrew from Iran Nuclear Accord which was signed between Iran & six other countries including US UK & Russia.Iran has increased production highly enriched uranium used in making nukes.The existing framework between US & Russia regarding disarmament is also at risk.New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty(New START)is set expirein2026 but there are no prospects yetfor establishing new arms control framework involving US,Russia&China