HIDANKYO has held dozens of petition actions every year to urge both the Japanese government and the Diet to take steps to make know to the world community the full dimension of the damage caused by the A-bombing, and take the lead in promoting public opinion for the prevention of nuclear war and the elimination of nuclear weapons. HIDANKYO has also constantly demanded that the Japanese government should admit the Japan’s state responsibility of launching the war, which eventually led to the atomic bombing, and that it should provide state compensation the bereaved families, as well as the sufferers on whom health damage was inflicted (though the enactment of a Hibakusha Aid Law).

The "Hibakusha Aid Law" demanded by HIDANKYO, therefore, is to include a pledge of the nation that it would do every effort so that there would never be another Hibakusha anywhere. The demand forms an integral part of the demand, "No to nuclear war, and abolition weapons".

While refusing to admit its war responsibility, the Japanese government and other state organs have had to concede to the demands of the Hibakusha, such as: enacting the "A-bomb Victims Medical Care Law" in 1956 and the "Law on Special Measures (for Sufferers)" in 1967. In December 1994, a law named "Hibakusha Aid Law" was adopted, though this law neither provides state compensation nor admits the war responsibility of the state. HIDANKYO continues its legislative campaign, demanding a system for state compensation.

Some major projects in which HIDANKYO has taken active part include the preparation for the NGO International Symposium (to be referred to later) in 1977, and during and after the 1980s, survey on the "Fundamental Demands of the A-bomb Victims (prevention of nuclear war, elimination of nuclear weapons and Hibakusha Aid Law)", and nation-wide campaign to reach these goals.

In the movement to establish the Hibakusha Aid Law, HIDANKYO canvassed and obtained the endorsement signatures from more than two-thirds of all Diet members, as well as the resolutions adopted by some 75% of all Japanese local assemblies. The number of signatures collected nation-wide in the 1980s and 1990s has totaled over 20 million.

HIDANKYO is playing a major role in the movement against A and H bombs. Not only taking part in a number of peace events during summer, HIDANKYO sends its representatives all over Japan, who bear witness to their A-bomb experiences, helping to promote the public opinion for a ban and the elimination of nuclear weapons.

Internationally, HIDANKYO sends many Hibakusha to other countries, who appeal the prevention of nuclear war and the abolition of nuclear arms, and inform people around the world of the damage caused by the A-bomb damage, thus helping to develop peace movement everywhere in the world. By these contributions, HIDANKYO was twice nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, in 1985 and 1994.(For details: Nomination for Nobel Prize)