Author: Luisa Hofmann
Almost 80 years after two American atomic bombs claimed the lives of over 120,000
innocent people in Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945, with many more thousands dying
following grave injuries and devastating long-term health effects, the Nobel Peace Prize for
2024 was awarded to the Japanese organisation Nihon Hidankyo.
This grassroot movement of atomic bomb survivors, the Hibakusha, has been tirelessly
advocating and demonstrating for a world free of nuclear weapons. Their unique testimony
helps us “to describe the indescribable, to think the unthinkable, and to somehow grasp
the incomprehensible pain and suffering caused by nuclear weapons”.
The unprecedented risks and dangers of nuclear weapons for all of humanity and our entire
planet are - though unthinkable– well-established. The harm and destruction caused
by the nuclear bombings and continued testing are felt by communities worldwide to this day.
And yet, much of today’s debate largely overlooks the way in which nuclear weapons
discriminately affect certain populations and groups of people, how important voices
continue to be systemically marginalised, if not silenced; and how climate change issues
are significantly aggravated.
Posing an existential threat to humanity and with the power to cause environmental
devastation and catastrophic loss of life, nuclear weapons pose an extraordinary challenge to
global peace, security and justice. The mere existence of nuclear arsenals is fundamentally at
odds with the most crucial principles of human rights and equality.
Marginalised communities and indigenous populations tend to be disproportionately affected
by the environmental damage and health implications caused by nuclear facilities and testing
while often having little to no say in crucial decision-making processes.
Women’s voices and their unique perspectives on peace, security and disarmament have been
sidelined for decades in this historically male dominated field with policymaking based on
aggressive postures rather than cooperative solutions. Reflective of much broader societal
disparities of global governance this gender inequality is particularly salient given that
women and children tend to be specifically susceptible to radiation-related illnesses, defects,
mutations and reproductive harm.
Our already existing climate crisis is further aggravated through degrading ecosystems
caused by long-term radiation and testing of nuclear weapons. Crucial resources for the
redressal of climate change and disaster relief are commonly invested in
the further militarisation of nuclear weapons states instead.
Accordingly, we often find ourselves in a constant state of violence and fragile peace, in a
perpetual cycle of insecurity and instability caused by misallocation of resources and a world
based on unequal power dynamics to the detriment of the most marginalised and often
vulnerable communities.
While nuclear disarmament, gender inequality, global justice and climate change may seem
like largely distinct battles, they are in fact all part of the same struggle, deeply connected and
often rooted in the same unsustainable structures of power and systemic inequalities.
Any attempt of addressing these issues thus requires a holistic and integrated approach that
recognizes their interconnectedness and complex dynamics.
To guarantee a just, secure and habitable existence for ourselves and future generations we
must move away from militarised notions of security towards policies prioritising human
well-being, equality, safety and environmental responsibility. Enabling access to adequate
information and education, acknowledging the importance of the voices of victims,
decolonising curricula, uncovering country-specific – often whitewashed – narratives and
promoting the ratification of the TPNW are only starting points for this undoubtedly lengthy
endeavour in which civil society and policymakers both have an equally important role to
play.
One day, the Hibakusha will no longer be with us to serve as living witnesses to history, to
educate and inspire people worldwide and to preserve the nuclear taboo. It is up to each and
every one of us to carry forward their tremendous legacy and continue their commitment to a
world free of nuclear weapons. After all nuclear disarmament is of concern to us all and
it is much more than just a security issue. It is a matter of human rights, equality and
justice reflective of the broader struggle for a safer, fairer and more sustainable world free
from fear and despair and a prosperous, stable and peaceful future – for everyone.
We are currently working on a podcast series about nuclear disarmament, climate, gender & justice. If you would like to stay informed about this and learn more about nuclear disarmament in general, we invite you to subscribe to the UNHS newsletter.
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