KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – 17-year-old Nila Ibrahimi, a teenager from Afghanistan residing in Canada, has been awarded the 20th International Children’s Peace Prize for her “courageous efforts to advocate for the rights of Afghan girls.”
The award was presented to her on Tuesday, November 19, in Amsterdam by Yemeni Nobel Peace Prize laureate Tawakkol Karman during a special ceremony marking the prize’s 20th anniversary.
KidsRights announced that Nila won the prize after competing with 165 nominees from 47 countries worldwide.
“Winning the International Children’s Peace Prize will mean that the voices of Afghan women and girls will echo across the world,” Nila said during her acceptance speech. “We must all continue to give them strength and hope in the darkest of times.”
Nila was recognized for her role in co-founding “Her Story,” an initiative providing a platform for Afghan girls to share their experiences, and for “spearheading a singing protest movement” in Afghanistan. Despite the Taliban’s oppressive laws banning girls from public expression and education, Nila has continued to advocate globally, calling for justice and education rights for Afghan women.
Marc Dullaert, founder of the KidsRights Foundation, praised her work: “Nila’s inspirational efforts to amplify the voices of Afghan girls excluded from education make her a truly worthy winner of this year’s prize.”
The ceremony featured a global singalong led by Nila, with girls participating remotely across various countries. Her protest song, which has become a viral anthem, was broadcast worldwide, ensuring the voices of Afghan girls reached millions.
Nila’s award comes at a time when Afghan women and girls face unprecedented oppression which has been described as “gender apartheid” by rights groups and experts.
