April 15, 2005

Somebody thought of the children The World's Children's Prize for the Rights of the Child is awarded to people or organisations that have made positive contributions to the lives of children. This year, the Global Friends Award is shared between Graca Machel, for her work with street kids in Mozambique and her fight for the right of girls to go to school, and Nelson Mandela for his work for equal rights for children in South Africa. The thing that sets the WCPRC apart from other major prizes is that the winner is chosen by children themselves - over 6 million kids in 9000 schools in 73 countries are involved with the awards.

A second award, the World's Children's Prize, is decided by an international jury of 15 children - former child soldiers, slaves, refugees - and was given to a group of 20 women known as The Mothers of St. Rita in Kenya, who work to take care of AIDS orphans. The prize is important because it not only empowers children to have their voices heard in a way that they are rarely given the opportunity to do and teaches them about the process of voting, but also teaches them about their rights, as outlined in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (the only countries not to ratify the convention are Somalia and the US). Felipe de Silva, 14, from Brazil, says about the award, "When I vote about the Global Friends’ Award, I feel I’m expressing my opinion, and for once it’ll be respected. Many adults think that children don’t know anything and don’t listen to us. Thanks to the prize, we can form an opinion and express it." Madan, 12, from India, says, "If the prize and the voting could be known to children all over the world, they would demand their rights. The prize also teaches children about the efforts being made around the world for the rights of the child. Children aren’t viewed as equals in society. They are forced to work, and not allowed to go to school. But we have the right to play, read, speak and have a good life." More thoughts from children who voted here.

posted by mothninja 19 years ago
  • Thanks, this is great. I had no idea this award existed.
  • Be interesting to know what the US rationale for not ratifying the Rights of the Child is. Fine links, many )))!!! Thanks, mothninja.
  • Thanks for this. The plight of children around the world is almost to heartbreaking to think about. Which is it seems that not enough people do think about it. The fact that the children award this is particularly satisfying. Be interesting to know what the US rationale for not ratifying the Rights of the Child is Could it have something to do with the suffering endured by children in Iraq as a direct consequence of the war? Just a guess, but it wouldn't surprise me.
  • just beautiful.
  • Great, great post, mothninja! Thanks.
  • An excellent (and heart-breaking) post, mothninja! The US rationale for not ratifying the UN convention on the Rights of the Child is puzzling indeed, as is the recent nomination of former Agriculture Secretary Ann Venneman as the next Executive Director of UNICEF
  • The Prize for the Rights of the Child is said to bear an undertext - "The Iqbal Masih Award for The Rights of the Child" in honor of the bonded debt-slave boy murdered in 1995 who was its first recipient. His sister accepted the award from the Queen posthumously on his behalf (link above includes video of the presentation). Two other children received this award posthumously - Anne Frank and Hector Pieterson.
  • Brilliant post, mothy!