The International Trade Union Confederation - Asia Pacific extends its heartfelt congratulations to HIDANKYO, the Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations, on being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. This prestigious recognition honours HIDANKYO's tireless work in advocating for a world free from nuclear weapons and the horrors they cause.
The voices of the Hibakusha—the survivors of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki—are a powerful reminder of the catastrophic human cost of nuclear warfare. Their stories carry the weight of a tragedy that should never be forgotten. For decades, HIDANKYO has not only passed on these stories but also echoed them across generations and borders, urging the world to never repeat such devastation.
With the following words, Shoya Yoshida, General Secretary of ITUC-Asia Pacific, reflected on the late Sunao Tsuboi, who served as the representative of Hiroshima HIDANKYO until his passing at the age of 96 in 2021:
“Mr. Tsuboi was exposed to the atomic bombing on August 6, 1945, while commuting to university, just 1.5km from the hypocenter in Hiroshima. After retiring from his position as a junior high school teacher in 1986, he became actively involved in the anti-nuclear movement and participated in the annual RENGO Hiroshima rallies. Mr. Tsuboi spoke of the horrors of the atomic bomb in a calm manner, but what he described was almost unbearable to hear – stories of a woman with her throat cut open by glass shards, her bones exposed, another woman whose eyeballs were hanging from her cheeks, and others jumping into rivers in desperate search for water. He also shared the sorrow of being unable to help those people. He said, ‘The cruelty of the atomic bomb isn’t just that it took hundreds of thousands of lives in an instant, but that it continues to cause suffering for many survivors even to this day.’”
Yoshida continued, “If he were alive today, I’m sure he would say this: ‘I’m grateful for the Nobel Peace Prize, but it saddens me that there are still those who argue for nuclear deterrence. A world without nuclear weapons is achievable if everyone truly wishes for it.’”
The Hibakusha’s unwavering courage and resilience remind the world of the urgent need to eliminate nuclear weapons. The ITUC-Asia Pacific believes that it is imperative that governments across the globe hear their voices and take concrete action by ratifying the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. This treaty is a critical step toward achieving a world where future generations are spared the unimaginable suffering caused by nuclear arms.
The ITUC-Asia Pacific joins HIDANKYO in calling all nations to commit to peace and disarmament, as these are critical in safeguarding human dignity. “Let us honour the Hibakusha’s legacy by working together for a future where nuclear weapons no longer threaten our world,” Shoya Yoshida said.
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