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4 oktober 2023
Millions of children choose Indigenous children’s champion as recipient of the ‘children’s Nobel Prize’
In a global vote, millions of children have chosen Cindy Blackstock, who has fought for the rights of Indigenous children in Canada for more than 30 years, as the recipient of the World’s Children’s Prize (WCP), often referred to as the ‘Children’s Nobel Prize’ by media around the world.
Cindy Blackstock and two other Child Rights Heroes were honoured today during the WCP ceremony at Gripsholm Castle in Mariefred, Sweden, where children from ten countries, including former soldiers and slaves, were assisted by Sweden’s Queen Silvia to present the awards.
Blackstock, herself a member of the Gitxsan people, has pushed for legislative changes that include giving 165,000 First Nations children on reserves the right to good schools and clean water. When children’s remains were found in unmarked graves outside closed-down residential schools in 2021, Blackstock had already been pursuing legal cases against the government for ten years to secure financial compensation and redress for victims of Canada’s 150-year ‘cultural genocide’ of Indigenous people.
The World’s Children’s Honorary Award went to Mohammed Rezwan, from Bangladesh, for his 25-year fight for the right of children, especially girls, to education. Thanks to his unique boat schools, the school comes to the children – even with increased flooding due to climate change. Buddhist nun Thích Nu Minh Tú from Vietnam also received the honorary award in recognition of her fight for orphans and poor children who cannot grow up with their families.
Empowered millions of children to defend rights
The World’s Children’s Prize is more than just a prize. Since 2000, more than 47 million children have learned about children’s rights, the work of the Child Rights Heroes and democracy through the annual WCP school program. It ends with a global vote and children making their voices heard regarding which changes they want to see. The majority of the participants are vulnerable children who are learning for the first time that they have rights.Global patrons
Patrons of the World’s Children’s Prize include Malala Yousafzai, the late Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu, Graça Machel, Queen Silvia, and several former Swedish prime ministers and children’s ministers. The WCP Program also has the backing of 75,000 schools in 120 countries, more than 860 organizations and several ministries of education.Press contact
Carmilla Floyd carmilla.floyd@worldschildrensprize.org Tel.: 070-9507 407 or 0159-129 00For more information and press images, see worldschildrensprize.org/media
Långgatan 13, 647 30, Mariefred, Sweden
Phone: +46-159-129 00 • info@worldschildrensprize.org
© 2020 World’s Children’s Prize Foundation. All rights reserved. WORLD'S CHILDREN'S PRIZE®, the Foundation's logo, WORLD'S CHILDREN'S PRIZE FOR THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD®, WORLD'S CHILDREN'S PARLIAMENT®, WORLD'S CHILDREN'S OMBUDSMAN®, WORLD'S CHILDREN'S PRESS CONFERENCE® and YOU ME EQUAL RIGHTS are service marks of the Foundation.
