00:00The Secretary-General warmly congratulated the grassroots Japanese organization Nihon
00:05Heidankyo on being awarded the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize.
00:11Atomic bomb survivors from Hiroshima and Nagasaki, also known as the Hibakusha, are selfless,
00:16soul-bearing witnesses of the horrific human cost of nuclear weapons.
00:21While their numbers grow smaller each year, the relentless work and resilience of the
00:25Hibakusha are the backbone of the global nuclear disarmament movement.
00:30In a statement, the Secretary-General said that he will never forget his many meetings
00:34with them over the years.
00:36Their haunting living testimony reminds the world that the nuclear threat is not confined
00:41to history books.
00:42Nuclear weapons remain a clear and present danger to humanity, once again appearing in
00:47the daily rhetoric of international relations.
00:51It is time for world leaders to be as clear-eyed as the Hibakusha and see nuclear weapons for
00:56what they are, devices of death that offer no safety, protection or security.
01:03The only way to eliminate the threat of nuclear weapons is to eliminate them altogether.
01:08The United Nations proudly stands with the Hibakusha.
01:10They are an inspiration to our shared efforts to build a world free of nuclear weapons.
01:15Their work has been absolutely significant in terms of creating and galvanizing the world's
01:24public opinion to support nuclear disarmament.
01:31I would say their work has been a very difficult one.
01:35Just imagine you go through atomic bombings and such catastrophic experiences, very difficult
01:46experiences, probably you would not want to remember.
01:51But these Hibakushas are very brave and decided to share their catastrophic experiences to
02:01the world, public, in order for the world to make movements towards peace and nuclear
02:10disarmament and of course eventually the elimination of nuclear weapons.
02:16This morning I would like to really not just warmly congratulate them, but also I would
02:22like to again repeat my sincere thanks and then also on behalf of the United Nations
02:27our sincere gratitude for their tireless work in support of nuclear disarmament.
02:37We do receive incredible amounts of inspiration and also courage and energy, I would say,
02:47from their movements and from those individual Hibakusha.
02:52They are incredible people.
02:57For more UN videos visit www.un.org
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