World’s Children’s Prize for the Rights of the Child
Iqbal Masih became a debt slave in a carpet factory in Pakistan when he was a child. Five years later he was set free. He gave other children the courage to leave their owners. Iqbal was threatened by the carpet factory owners and was murdered on 16 April 1995. A symbol for the struggle against child labour. in 2000, he received the very first World’s Children’s Prize posthumously (after his death). Since that time, the prize has an additional name in memory of Iqbal: the Iqbal Masih Award.

World’s Children’s Honorary Awards
In the first year, three children from the billions who had their rights violated during the 20th century were honoured posthumously. The two honorary awardees were Anne Frank, Holland, and Hector Pieterson, South Africa. Anne Frank, a Jewish girl, died in a Nazi concentration camp in March 1945, just before the end of the war. Hector Pieterson protested against the then-racist apartheid regime of South Africa. He was shot dead by police at the age of 12 in Soweto on 16 June 1976.

World’s Children’s Prize for the Rights of the Child
Asfaw Yemiru, Ethiopia, for his lifetime achievments for children living in poverty and on the street. Asfaw was himself living in homelessness from the age of 9. At 14, he opened his first school for street children underneath an oak tree in his community. Since then, he devoted over 50 years to giving vulnerable children the chance to go to school and live a decent life.

World’s Children’s Honorary Award
Barefoot College, India, for their 40+ years of pioneering efforts, including their creation of a Children’s Parliament, education so-called "barefoot teachers" from rural areas to teach in evening schools giving working children, especially girls, the chan ce to an education.

Children’s Peace Movement, Colombia, for empowering children to campaign against war and organizing activities to bring happiness and peace. Children took the lead in promoting peace and empowering their friends to demand the right of young people to live a good life, free from violence.

World’s Children’s Prize for the Rights of the Child
Nkosi Johnson, South Africa was awarded posthumously for fighting for the rights of children suffering from HIV and AIDS. He founded a home for poor mothers and children with AIDS. He also urged the South African government to give mothers with HIV special drugs that would come to save the lives of tens of thousands of children. Nkosi fought for children with HIV and AIDS up until the time of his death at the age of 12.

The Child Jury Award
Maiti Nepal for fighting exploitation and trafficking of vulnerable girls from Nepal to India where they were forced to work as slaves in brothels. They rescue girls affected by trafficking and offer rehabilitation and education. Many of the girls are empowered as changemakers. Maiti also works with prevention to stop girls from being lured by traffickers and runs a home and a hospital for affected girls.

World’s Children’s Honorary Award
Casa Allianza, Central America, provide care and protection for children who have experienced extraordinary trauma, including abuse, neglect, violence, abandonment, substance addiction, sexual exploitation and human trafficking.

World’s Children’s Prize for the Rights of the Child
Maggy Barankitse, Burundi, for caring for and supporting tens of thousands of orphaned children in war-torn Burundi. Maggy has given children a home, love, schooling and a hospital and struggled to help children affected by armed conflict. She spreads awareness and builds villages where orphaned children can grow up in family-like surroundings.

The Child Jury Award
James Aguer, Sudan for freeing thousands of kidnapped children from slavery in South Sudan. James was imprisoned more than 30 times and saw four of his coworkers murdered – all for their stubborn fight against children being kidnapped by armed militia, and forced to work, sleep outdoors with the animals and badly abused.

World’s Children’s Honorary Award
Pastoral da Criança’s, Brazil, for engaging more than 150,000 volunteers in work to reduce infant mortality and malnutrition among poor children. Pastoral da Criança’s teach families how to take better care of children and give extra support to those who need it. They also work against violence against women and children.

World’s Children’s Prize for the Rights of the Child
Prateep Ungsongtham Hata, Thailand, was a child worker at the age of ten. Since turning 16, Prateep spent all her time fighting for poor children in slums and rural areas. Her goal was to give them a better life and the chance to go to school. Prateep’s organisation offers children financial support; and runs pre-schools, a school for children with hearing impairments, children’s homes and school libraries.

World’s Children’s Honorary Award
Paul and Mercy Baskar, India, for fighting against hazardous child labour and slavery. Their organisation Peace Trust empowers children with education on their rights. They put pressure on factory owners to not employ children; demand that politicians enforce the ban on child labour; and organise protests against child labour, for child rights.

Liz Gaynes and Emani Davis, USA, for their work defending the rights of children of prisoners. Emani was six years old when her father was sentenced to 107 years in prison. She and her mother Liz, a human rights lawyer, made pioneering efforts through the Osborne Association and as independent child rights advocates. Tens of thousands of children and their parents have been helped by parenting programmes, children’s centers in prison and post-release services.

World’s Children’s Prize for the Rights of the Child
Nelson Mandela, South Africa, and Graça Machel, Mozambique. Mandela for his life-long struggle for equal rights for all children in South Africa and his work to defend their rights. After 27 years in prison, he became the first democratically elected president of South Africa, a country where children of all skin colours gained equal rights for the first time. As president Nelson Mandela donated half of his salary to poor children and when he received the Nobel Peace Prize he gave part of the prize money to help street children.

Graca Machel was awarded for her long struggle for children’s rights, especially girls’ equal rights. Graça also fights against all forms of violence and abuse against children. On a global scale, Graça has worked to help child victims of war and to stop the trafficking of children in many ways, including as a member of the Elders group.

The Child Jury Award
Dunga Mothers, Kenya for their unpaid and difficult struggle to help children who have lost their parents to AIDS. These are children who could otherwise end up living on the streets, facing a life of drugs, violence, crime and commercial sexual exploitation. The Mothers have fought for the rights of orphaned children to have the same opportunities in life as other children.

World’s Children’s Honorary Award
Ana María Marañon de Bohorquez, Bolivia, for working selflessly for street children in Cochabamba, Bolivia. Many of these children have parents who were once street children themselves. With street life comes violence and drugs, but Ana María is determined to give all children a chance for a better life.

World’s Children’s Prize for the Rights of the Child
Craig Kielburger, Canada, for fighting agains det slavery and strengthening all children's right to make their voices heard. In the mid-2000s, along with his brother Marc Kielburger, Craig co-founded WE, providing a model called WE Villages that has helped to lift more than one million people out of poverty in low-income countries.

The Child Jury Award
AOCM, Rwanda, for the tireless work by and for children orphaned by the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. The organisation was founded by children and young people who lost family members in the genocide, to help each other create a better life. They supported each other living together in child-headed households, sharing both material things and love.

World’s Children’s Honorary Award
Jetsun Pema, Tibet, who since arriving to India as a refugee with her brother, the Dalai Lama, has fought for the rights of Tibetan refugee children. Tens of thousands of children have been helped through TCV. Some are orphans while others have been sent by their parents to escape the oppression and poverty in Chinese-controlled Tibet. In her Tibetan children’s villages, youngsters are provided a loving home. and the chance to go to school and speak their language.

World’s Children’s Prize for the Rights of the Child

Betty Makoni, Zimbabwe, for her long struggle for girls in Zimbabwe to be freed from abuse and to have the same opportunities in life as boys. Through the Girl Child Network, Betty empowered girls to demand their rights, supports those who are exposed to abuse and protects others from assault, forced marriage and trafficking. She built safe villages for particularly vulnerable girls and started girls’ clubs in rural areas and poor townships.

World’s Children’s Honorary Award
Dr. Cynthia Maung, Burma, for fighting for health and education for hundreds of thousands of refugee children suffering due to the military dictatorship in Myanmar/Burma. Cynthia, originally from Myanmar, founded the Mae Tao Clinic in Thailand in 1989, offering free healthcare to refugees and migrants, most of whom are children. The clinic also trains travelling medics who return in secret to Myanmar.

Inderjit Khurana, India, for running over 100 schools and child helplines for some of India’s poorest children – those who live and work on or near train stations. Inderjit believed that if a child cannot come to school, the school has to come to the child. She and Ruchika ran classrooms at train platforms and provided education and promoted good health and self-esteem.

World’s Children’s Prize for the Rights of the Child
Somaly Mam, Cambodia for, after being exploited in the commercial sex industry, combatting trafficking and empowering vulnerable girls. Her organization offers rehabilitation and education in safe houses for girls. Here they also provide food, healthcare, and the chance to train for a job in the future.

World’s Children’s Honorary Award
Josefina Condori, Peru, for fighting for indigenous girls that are forced to work as maids in private homes, often under slave-like conditions. Many of these domestic workers face violence and abuse. Josefina, who was a maid herself as a child, founded Yanapanakusun, an organization that runs a home for vulnerable girls and a center for domestic workers.

Agnes Stevens, USA, for buiking a movement – School on Wheels – that support children living in homelessness, often with their mothers, to go to school and get a good education. Since they have to move around a lot and chnage schools, volounteer tutors help till them with homework and wherever the child goes, the tutor follows.

World’s Children’s Prize for the Rights of the Child
Murhabazi Namegabe, DR Congo, for supporting child soldiers and other vulnerable children in his war-torn country. Murhabazi has been imprisoned, assaulted, and received countless death threats due to his struggle. His organization BVES has centers where former child soldiers and other children receive food, clothing, safety, health and medical care, therapy, schooling, security, and love.

World’s Children’s Honorary Award
Monira Rahman, Bangladesh, for her courageous fight to put an end to acid and petrol violence in Bangladesh. Most of those affected are girls, but women, boys, and men are also victims. Her organization has helped survivors live active lives with dignity, through everything from plastic surgery to education and raised awareness .

Cecilia Flores-Oebanda, the Philippines, for tirelessly working to rescue and rehabilitate children affected by slave labour and trafficking. Cecilia founded the organization We Are Free, rescuing and supporting tens of thousands of children. They also conduct preventative work and have trained partners to combat trafficking, including judges, prosecutors, police, travel agencies, and teachers.

World’s Children’s Prize for the Rights of the Child
Anna Mollel, Tanzania, was awarded for her efforts to empower children with disabilities and to secure their right to education and care. Her work has brought hope and practical support to children and families, providing everything from surgery to education, and changing society's perception of children with disabilities.

World’s Children’s Honorary Award
Sakena Yacoobi, Afghanistan, for her long and dangerous struggle to fulfil Afghan children and women’s rights to education, and healthcare, and to learn about their rights. Her organization, Afghan Institute of Learning (AIL), first opened secret schools in 1995, when the Taliban regime banned girls from going to school. Since then, they have fought for all childrens right to going to school, traning teachers and giving Afghan children opportunities and hope despite decades of war.

Ann Skelton, South Africa, for her long and successful fight for the rights of children affected by the criminal justice system. Ann's groundbreaking work for South Africa’s children have made a difference in courtrooms and laws, children's detention centers, schools and for unaccompanied refugee children as well as in custody battles.

World’s Children’s Prize for the Rights of the Child
James Kofi Annan, Ghana, for his fight to stop child slavery in the fishing industry on Lake Volta in Ghana. James was himself trafficked as a child and worked as a slave for seven years with a fisherman. Now, his organization Challenging Heights rescues enslaved children, offers rehabilitiation and safe housing, and campaigns for the government to implement child labour laws. .

World’s Children’s Honorary Award
Sompop Jantraka, Thailand, for fighting the commercial sexual exploitation of children and fighting for the rights of vulnerable children in the Mekong region. Sompop grew up in poverty and started working at the age of six. Now, he has given thousands of poor children throughout the Mekong Region protection and education.

Kimmie Weeks, Liberia, for fighting for the rights of children affected by war and poverty. When Kimmie was 16, he organized a campaign to rescue child soldiers in the civil war. This contributed to the liberation of 20,000 children. Kimmie went on to help vulnerable children, providing a home for orphans, rehabilitation of child soldiers, education, and healthcare.

World’s Children’s Prize for the Rights of the Child
Malala Yousafzai, Pakistan & the UK, for fighting for every girl’s right to education and a life of freedom. Malala risked her life at the age of 12, when she started speaking up for her and other girls' right to go to school in Swat Valley in Pakistan. She survived an attempt on her life and now runs her own foundation, the Malala Fund to promote girls’ rights to education and freedom all over the world.

World’s Children’s Honorary Award
John Wood, USA, for fighting poverty and giving children around the world the chance to go to school. John founded Room to Read, which haas built thousands of schools and school libraries in some of the world’s poorest countries. Room to Read has published thousands of children’s books in local languages, given away over ten million books, and empower girls with education on life skills.

Indira Ranamagar, Nepal, for fighting for the rights of the children of prisoners. Indira lets children stay at safe homes where they receive an education and a safe childhood. All the while, they keep in touch with their imprisoned parent. Indira also lobbies politicians and authorities to make prisons more humane, and to support families after a parent is released from prison.

World’s Children’s Prize for the Rights of the Child
Phymean Noun, Cambodia, for ensuring that vulnerable children, including those affected by HIV/AIDS, go to school and have their basic needs met. Her organization, People’s Improvement Organization (PIO), has given over a thousand children education, food, clean water, and healthcare. The organization run its own schools and a children's home, for orphaned and abandoned children. World’s Children’s Honorary Award
Javier Stauring, USA, for bringing justice to children and families hurt in the criminal justice system, including victims of crime and young offenders. Javier and his organization, Healing Dialogue and Action, use reconciliation and dialogue instead of harsh punishment and revenge. Javier’s work has helped change laws and regulations that violated children’s rights.

Kailash Satyarthi, India, for his life time fight against child labour and debt slavery, and all children’s right to education. Kailash and his organizations rescue enslaved children, build homes where can be safe. Kailash has received death threats and two of his coworkers were killed for their work. They have freed nearly 100,000 children, and their ‘Global March Against Child Labor’ campaign has grown into a movement involving millions of people.

World’s Children’s Prize for the Rights of the Child
Manuel Rodrigues, Guinea-Bissau, for fighting for children with disabilities. Manuel, himself blind from childhood, gave up a succeful career to give children with disabilities a life with dignity. His organization AGRICE provides healthcare, food, and access to education, as well as rescuing children who have been abandoned or hidden. They also educates parents so they can support their children better. .

World’s Children’s Honorary Award
Rosi Gollmann, Germany, for her fight for the poorest and most vulnerable children in India and Bangladesh. TOgether with local partners, Rosi and her organization Andheri-Hilfe, have helped ten million people create a better future. 50,000 child labourers have been freed, and tens of thousands of children with disabilities have received support. The campaign ‘No girl is unwanted’, have stopped over 12,000 Indian girls from being killed at birth, instead getting support and an education.

Molly Melching, USA and Senegal, for her fight to end female genital mutilation (FGM), child marriage, and forced marriage. Molly and her organization Tostan involve whole villages, children, and adults alike, in a three-year training program that covers health, education, and environmental issues. The program includes empowering women and children and raising awareness of children’s rights.

World’s Children’s Prize for the Rights of the Child
Rachel Lloyd, USA, for empowering children who have been affected by commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC). The survivors are trained as leaders to help others. Rachel and GEMS (Girls Educational and Mentoring Services) support hundreds of exploited girls and nonbinary youngsters by providing safe housing, education, counselling, legal support, and love. They also work with preventive initiatives, for example educating social workers and police officers about CSEC.

World’s Children’s Honorary Award
Valeriu Nicolae, Romania, for his fight for the very poorest and most vulnerable children in Romania, including the Roma. Valeriu and his network tackle discrimination and racism, protecting the rights of children living in poverty. They give homework help and teach children about their rights. They also fight for laws and systems that protect children from hate crimes and strengthen their opportunities.

Gabriel Mejía Montoya, Colombia, for his more than 30-year struggle for Colombia’s vulnerable children—street children, former child soldiers, and children sentenced to prison. Father Gabriel's homes offer doctors, psychologists, and social workers supporting children that also access activities such as education, therapy, yoga, and meditation. They are taught good values, to show empathy, show respect and take responsibility.

World’s Children’s Prize for the Rights of the Child
Dr. Ashok Dyalchand, India, for his fight against child marriage and girls’ rights and education. To save girls’ lives, raise their status, and stop child marriage, Ashok and his organization IHMP set up Girls clubs, promoting knowledge and awareness, and support of one another. Boys and men are also pushed hard to participate in the fight for gender equality.

World’s Children’s Honorary Award
Guylande Mésadieu, Haiti, for her work to support domestic slave children, street children, and children in prison. Guylande founded the organization Zanmi Timoun (Children’s Friend) to help vulnerable children in the major earthquake in 2010, when hundreds of thousands of children ended up on the street. Then families who had lost everything also gave up their children to slave labour.

Spès Nihangaza, Burundi, for her fight for Burundi’s orphans and most vulnerable children. Her organization FVS runs a boarding school, a center for street children, and clinics. Spès has also created a system of 1,700 solidarity groups in which villagers save money together, and orphans are placed in safe, loving homes. The savings fund is then used for micro loans to people wanting to start a small business, for healthcare, and for school uniforms and school materials.

World’s Children’s Prize for the Rights of the Child
Cindy Blackstock, Canada, for her fight for equal rights for Indigenous children to get equal education, healthcare, and the right to grow up in a loving home, and be proud of their language and culture. Hundreds of thousands of Indigenous children in Canada suffer discrimination because of their ancestry. Cindy and the organization First Nations caring Society works to change that.

World’s Children’s Honorary Award
Mohammed Rezwan, Bangladesh, for his fight for the rights of children, especially girls, to attend school despite flooding and poverty exacerbated by the climate crisis. Rezwan's boat schools and floating clinics ensures access to education even when schools and roads are destroyed by flooding annually. That allows children to continue in school instead of having to work or be married off.

Thích Nữ Minh Tú, Vietnam, for fighting for the rights of orphans and children living in poverty. After a childhood marked by war, she became a Buddhist nun. Her pagoda provides security, love, medicines, healthcare, and a place to play for orphans and other vulnerable children. They are assisted in obtaining birth certificates so that they can go to school, and get school materials, uniforms, and grants for higher education.