Brussels 11.10.2023 “The award of the Nobel Peace Prize to the organisation Nihon Hidankyo, a grassroots movement of atomic bomb survivors from Hiroshima and Nagasaki, serves as a reminder of the very severe consequences associated with nuclear weapons use and the responsibility that all States share to prevent such an occurrence from happening”, reads the statement of Statement by the High Representative on the 2024 laureate.

“As the leaders of the five nuclear weapon States recalled in January 2022, a nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought.

“The European Union consistently stresses the need to implement all obligations and commitments with regard to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), including the need for concrete progress towards the full implementation of its Article VI, with the ultimate goal of total elimination of nuclear weapons. We promote the universalisation and entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT). We deploy intense diplomatic efforts to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons.

“The European Union is working with partners around the world to preserve and strengthen the global nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament architecture, and its essential contribution to international peace and security”.

On 6 and 9 August 1945 respectively, the United States detonated two atomic bombs over the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The bombings killed between 150,000 and 246,000 people, most of whom were civilians, and remain the only use of nuclear weapons in an armed conflict.

Almost 80 years later the U.S. remains committed to its narrative that the bombings were necessary and justified — and that no apology is necessary to the victims.

Each year, thousands of visitors to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum watch two paper cranes, which represent a symbol of peace in Japan, provided by former U.S. President Barack Obama during his 2016 landmark visit to Hiroshima. Unfortunately, these cranes were not accompanied by an apology for the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. In fact, all American presidents have refused to apologize for the bombings, which occurred almost years ago. This refusal is motivated by the hegemonic narrative in the United States regarding the atomic bombings and widespread public opposition to an apology and commemorating Japanese victims.