Anti-Nuclear Weapons group ICAN wins 2017 Nobel Peace Prize

The 2017 Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded to the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), a group calling for the ban of nuclear weapons.

ICAN, a coalition, is made up of hundreds of non-governmental organisations across the world.

Berit Reiss-Andersen, the Nobel committee chairperson, said the group’s “groundbreaking efforts” to achieve the prohibition of nuclear weapons is the reason they won the prestigious prize.

“We live in a world where the risk of nuclear weapons being used is greater than it has been for a long time,” she said.

The group will be receiving $1.1 million, along with a medal, for their win.

Beatrice Fihn, the executive director of the group, said the win was an indication that ICAN’s work is “needed and appreciated.” She said:

The laws of war say that we can’t target civilians. Nuclear weapons are meant to target civilians; they’re meant to wipe out entire cities. That’s unacceptable and nuclear weapons no longer get an excuse.

It’s a giant radioactive bomb, it just causes chaos and havoc and civilian casualties. It is not a weapon that you can use in line with the laws of war.

Every state matters here. The more states that sign and ratify this treaty the stronger the norm is going to get. They’re not moving towards disarmament fast enough.

Photo Credit: Nobel Prize