Today it was revealed which three Child Rights Heroes are in the running to receive the World’s Children’s Prize (WCP). Millions of
children, thousands of them in Nigeria, will vote to decide who will receive the prize, which is often referred to as the “Children’s Nobel
Prize” by worldwide media.
In total, the nominees have been fighting for
almost 100 years to protect the rights of vulnerable children.
Millions of children in Nigeria and around the world will now learn about the work
of the Child Rights Heroes to support vulnerable children.
They will then take part
in the children’s democratic Global Vote to choose the recipient of the World’s
Children’s Prize.
The candidates are:
• Mohammed Rezwan, Bangladesh
For his 25-year fight for the right of all children, and especially girls, to go
to school, despite increased poverty and flooding caused by climate change.
• Cindy Blackstock, Canada
For her 30-year fight for the rights of indigenous children to get a good
education, be healthy, grow up safely at home and be proud of their language
and culture.
• Thích Nu Minh Tú, Vietnam
For her almost 40-year fight as a Buddhist nun to protect orphans and
children whose families cannot afford to support them.
Since its launch in 2000, 46 million children, hundreds of thousands of them in Nigeria, have learned about the work of the Child Rights Heroes to support vulnerable
children and have subsequently participated in the Global Vote to choose the recipient of the World’s Children’s Prize.
The majority of the participating children live in poor, fragile countries and are learning for the first time that they have rights.
Honoured in Sweden
All the Child Rights Heroes will be honoured at a ceremony at Gripsholm Castle in
Mariefred on 4 October 2023. Queen Silvia of Sweden will help children from twelve
countries, who will act as hosts for the ceremony, to award the prizes.
The prize money, SEK 500,000, is used to support the work of the Child Rights Heroes, and since 2000 has contributed to a better life for tens of thousands of vulnerable children.
Global patrons and support
Patrons of the World’s Children’s Prize include Malala Yousafzai, the late Nelson
Mandela and Desmond Tutu, Queen Silvia, and a number of former Swedish Prime
Ministers and Ministers for Children.
The WCP Program is also supported by
76,000 schools in 120 Countries and 849 organisations, and the Federal Ministry of
Education, The Ministries of Education in Kogi State, Lagos State, Ogun State, and
Oyo State, Nigeria.
The World’s Children’s Prize Foundation (WCPF) receives support from Svenska
Postkodlotteriet (part of Postcode Lottery Group), ForumCiv, Queen Silvia’s Care
About the Children Foundation, Survé Philanthropies and Sparbanksstiftelsen Rekarne, among others.
For more information and press images, visit worldschildrensprize.org/media
Please contact:
In Nigeria:
Moses Adedeji, Childrens Rights Network (CHRINET): +234 08030415288
moses.adedeji@gmail.com
In Sweden:
Magnus Bergmar: +46-70-515 58 39
Andreas Lönn: +46-70-344 18 90
media@worldschildrensprize.org
www.worldschildrensprize.org
WORLD’S CHILDREN’S PRIZE FOUNDATION
Långgatan 13, SE-647 30 Mariefred • +46 (0)159-129 00