2010-08-28

Honouring Decade Child Rights Heroes Graça Machel and Nelson Mandela.

Mrs Graça Machel, one of the world leaders of The Elders (www.theelders.org) is in Sweden to receive the award.

• In presence of ten of the world’s most respected child rights defenders They include: Asfaw Yemiru former street child, who has devoted over 50 years to giving underprivileged children in Ethiopia the chance to go to school. James Aguer, who has, over 20 years, freed thousands of kidnapped children from slave‐labour in Sudan. Somaly Mam, who after being a sex slave as a child, has spent 13 years liberating girls
from sex slavery in Cambodia and giving them rehabilitation and education.

• The ceremony is conducted by children from 25 countries, assisted by HM Queen Silvia
The children conducting the ceremony are experts on the rights of the child through their own life experiences, including as child soldiers, slaves and homeless.

Mrs Graça Machel and Mr Nelson Mandela were voted Decade Child Rights Heroes by 7,1 million children in the World’s Children’s Prize Global Vote. 24 million children in 53 500 schools in 101 countries are informal owners of the WCP.

In their joint statement on being honoured by the children Mrs Machel and Mr Mandela say:
   “We are extremely honoured to have been voted as the Decade Child Rights Heroes. There is nothing more precious and pure than being loved and appreciated by children. For both of us this award is very, very special given the place children occupy in our hearts and lives.
   As we celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, we also celebrate the significant achievement by mankind in child protection.
   However, being recognised and honoured by children comes with great responsibility. Too many children still suffer from hunger, no education, preventable diseases, abuse and neglect. While we thank you and accept this award, we also renew our commitment and call on each and every individual, whether in public or private life, to do even more to provide children with a future worth having. It is in our reach. There is no reason why we cannot make it happen.
   To all the children, wherever you are, we want you to know that we love you whole-heartedly.”

Broadcast quality footage at www.thenewsmarket.com/worldschildrensprize.

Further information from magnus.bergmar@worldschildrensprize.org, +46 (0)159-12900, +46 (0)70-5155839