World's Children's Prize for the Rights of the Child (WCPRC)

The World's Children's Prize for the Rights of the Child (WCPRC) is awarded to three individuals or organisations for outstanding contributions on behalf of the rights of the child. The election of finalists is structured as a worldwide educational and empowerment process for the rights of the child and democracy and gives the world’s children an opportunity to present prizes for significant contributions to their rights.

Through the World's Children's Prize, the children have the opportunity to learn about and demand respect for their rights, meet role models fighting for these rights, and take part in the Global Vote. The prize sums are used in support of economically disadvantaged children. More than 53,000 schools with 24 million students in 101 countries are registered as Global Friend schools of the WCPRC, including millions of students from vulnerable situations. Students at these schools are entitled to vote in the Global Vote - an election to decide the recipient of the WCPRC. In the Global Vote 2009, 7.1 million children voted.

An International Children's Jury select the final three candidates among the year’s nominations. The children on the jury are selected as experts in the field of children's rights through their own first-hand experiences as child soldiers, slaves, and refugees.

The World's Children's Honorary Awards go to the Prize Laureates who do not receive the WCPRC. All three Prize Laureates receive part of the prize money to use for their work on behalf of children who have experienced severe violations of their rights.

The WCPRC was founded by the Swedish journalist and film producer Magnus Bergmar in cooperation with the organisation Children's World, but is today run by the World’s Children’s Prize Foundation. The World’s Children’s Prize is open to all schools and organisations in the world. There are more than 500 Adult Friend organisations in some 40 countries, including non-governmental organisations (NGOs), departments of education, and media projects, supporting the WCPRC. Adults (organisations, companies, and individuals) may support the WCPRC as Adult Friends and may also nominate prize candidates.

Previous Prize Laureates

Click here for information on previous laureates, including 2009 laureates Nelson Mandela and Graça Machel.