The World's Children's Prize for the Rights of the Child is made up of two unique prizes that are awarded for outstanding contributions on behalf of the rights of the child. More than 10,000 schools in 70 countries are registered by WCPRC as Global Friend schools, and their number is growing. Students at these schools are entitled to vote in the Global Vote - an election to decide the recipient of one of the main prizes - the Global Friends' Award. At least two million children were expected to take part in the Global Vote in 2005. The other main prize, the World's Children's Prize, is awarded by an international Children's Jury. The children on the jury are experts in the field of children's rights through their own first-hand experiences as child soldiers, slaves and refugees. Three finalist candidates are put forward each year. The World's Children's Honorary Award goes to the finalist who does not receive either the Global Friends' Award or World's Children's Prize.

The prize amount for 2005 was USD $100,000. Companies including AstraZeneca and Det Norske Veritas contribute to the prize. All three prize laureates receive the money to use as part of their work on behalf of the rights of the child. Adults (organisations, companies and individuals) can support WCPRC as Adult Friends and can also nominate prize candidates. Some adults are benefactors of the Honorary Adult Friends prize. They include HRH Queen Silvia of Sweden, Nelson Mandela from South Africa and President of East Timor, Xanana Gusmão.

WCPRC was founded by Swedish organisation Children's World, but is open to all schools and organisations in the world. There are more than 200 Adult Friend organisations in some 40 countries.

People (children and adults) or organisations can be nominated for WCPRC. Self-nominations will not be accepted. All Global Friends and Adult Friends may submit nominations. All children under 18 in every school in the world can take part in the Global Vote for the Global Friends' Award. The only condition is that their school is a Global Friend.

The deadline for nominations for WCPRC 2006 was April 1 2005. Nominations received after April 1 2005 will be added to the list for WCPRC 2007.

More information about the voting period for WCPRC 2006 will be announced on the WCPRC website.

Click here for the nomination form online.

Becoming a Global Friend:

Any school, children's group and children's organisation in the world can become a Global Friend of The World's Children's Prize for the Rights of the Child. It gives all children under 18 in each school, group or organisation the right to take part in the Global Vote to decide who will receive the Global Friends Award.

Click here for more information about becoming a Global Friend.

Becoming an Adult Friend:

Adult Friend organisations show the world that they support children, the rights of the child and the prizes awarded for contributions on behalf of the rights of the child. Adult Friend organisations may take part in WCPRC's activities and arrange the Global Vote among children that they or their partners work together with. Adult Friend organisations have a standing right to nominate prize candidates. Adult Friend membership is free in most countries. In Western Europe, USA, Japan, Australia and New Zealand, organisations pay a fee that goes to the prize foundation. The fee varies.

Click here for more information about becoming an Adult Friend.

Previous Winners:

In 2005, the awards were given to:

Global Friends Award: Nelson Mandela and Graça Machel, from South Africa and Mozambique respectively.

World's Children's Prize: The Mothers of St. Rita, Kenya.

World's Children's Honorary Award: Ana María Marañon de Bohorquez, Bolivia.

For other previous winners of these awards, please click here.