The World's Children's Prize for the Rights of the Child
Encyclopedia
The World’s Children’s Prize contributes toward a more humane world in support of the rights of the child; it is said to be the world’s largest annual educational program teaching young people about the rights of the child, democracy, the environment, and global friendship.
More than 57,450 schools with 27 million students in 102 countries have registered as Global Friend schools of the World’s Children’s Prize. The program empowers children to demand respect for their rights while inspiring them to regain faith in a better future. It also provides children with the platform to voice their concerns.
In the annual Global Vote, participating children select who will receive their prestigious prize, the World’s Children’s Prize for the Rights of the Child, which recognizes exceptional efforts to protect the rights of the child. The annual Global Vote has attracted as many as 7,1 million voting children in a given year. The two candidates that do not receive the World’s Children’s Prize for the Rights of the Child are awarded the World’s Children’s Honorary Award in recognition of their hard work.
The World’s Children’s Prize is open to all schools and humanitarian organizations. It is supported by 553 organizations and departments of education. Many of them implement the program in collaboration with over 50,000 teachers. Through the World’s Children’s Prize, hundreds of millions of people are presented with information on the World’s Children’s Prize program and accounts of rights violations facing children around the world each year.
Millions of children who have had their rights violated participate in the program
Among the children who learn about their rights and democracy through the World’s Children’s Prize are millions of children whose rights have been violated. They include former child soldiers, debt slaves, street children, and children who have lost their parents to AIDS, genocide or the tsunami.
Many of these children did not know they had rights before becoming involved with the program.
Our magazine, The Globe, and website are both published in several languages and read by children all over the world.
The magazine is even smuggled into dictatorships like Burma, where children learn about their rights and organise their own democratic vote in secrecy.
More than 57,450 schools with 27 million students in 102 countries have registered as Global Friend schools of the World’s Children’s Prize. The program empowers children to demand respect for their rights while inspiring them to regain faith in a better future. It also provides children with the platform to voice their concerns.
In the annual Global Vote, participating children select who will receive their prestigious prize, the World’s Children’s Prize for the Rights of the Child, which recognizes exceptional efforts to protect the rights of the child. The annual Global Vote has attracted as many as 7,1 million voting children in a given year. The two candidates that do not receive the World’s Children’s Prize for the Rights of the Child are awarded the World’s Children’s Honorary Award in recognition of their hard work.
Patrons
Adults who perform outstanding work for the rights of the child and/or World’s Children’s Prize can be invited to become patrons of the World’s Children’s Prize. We call them Honorary Adult Friends. Today, we have three global legends serving as patrons of the World’s Children’s Prize: Nelson Mandela from South Africa, Democracy Champion Aung San Suu Kyi from Burma, and Freedom Fighter Xanana Gusmão, today Prime Minister, from East Timor. Our patrons also include Queen Silvia of Sweden, and Child Rights Champion and World Leader (theelders.org) Graça Machel from Mozambique and South Africa.Laureates and role models
Since the launch of the program in 2000, more than 30 Prize Laureates have been awarded the World’s Children’s Prize. These role models have inspired children all over the world to demand change, and the prize money has helped improve the lives of thousands of the world’s most vulnerable children.The World’s Children’s Prize is open to all schools and humanitarian organizations. It is supported by 553 organizations and departments of education. Many of them implement the program in collaboration with over 50,000 teachers. Through the World’s Children’s Prize, hundreds of millions of people are presented with information on the World’s Children’s Prize program and accounts of rights violations facing children around the world each year.
Millions of children who have had their rights violated participate in the program
Among the children who learn about their rights and democracy through the World’s Children’s Prize are millions of children whose rights have been violated. They include former child soldiers, debt slaves, street children, and children who have lost their parents to AIDS, genocide or the tsunami.
Many of these children did not know they had rights before becoming involved with the program.
Our magazine, The Globe, and website are both published in several languages and read by children all over the world.
The magazine is even smuggled into dictatorships like Burma, where children learn about their rights and organise their own democratic vote in secrecy.