The International Children's Peace Prize is an annual award recognizing a young person who takes courageous, concrete action to advance children's rights. Established in 2005 by KidsRights Foundation and launched at the World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates, the prize is presented each November by a Nobel Peace Laureate at a ceremony in a major international city. Past winners include Malala Yousafzai and Greta Thunberg.
Who is eligible:
Any child or young person ages 12–17 from any country who has taken meaningful action for children's rights — in areas such as education access, protection from violence or exploitation, environmental justice, peace, or disability rights. The nominee does not need to be affiliated with a formal organization. Groups may be nominated jointly.
Important: students cannot self-nominate. A supporting adult — a teacher, NGO worker, parent, community leader, or other adult — must submit the nomination form on the student's behalf. The student must be informed and consent to the nomination.
What the winner receives:
| Award | Details | | --------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | Nkosi Statuette | Hand-crafted award, unique each year | | Project Fund | €50,000 for the winner's own project; KidsRights invests a further €25,000 in related projects by other young changemakers | | Desmond Tutu Study and Care Fund | Grant supporting the winner's education and wellbeing | | Advocacy video | Professionally produced by KidsRights (top 3 finalists) | | Ceremony | Presented by a Nobel Peace Laureate at an international event |
Annual cycle:
Nominations typically open in the months following the previous ceremony and close on March 31. An expert committee reviews nominations from May to September. The top 30 nominees are announced in October and the top 3 finalists in November; the winner is revealed at the November ceremony. The 2025 ceremony was held at Stockholm City Hall on November 19, 2025.
Reach:
The prize receives nominations from around the world each year. In 2024, media coverage of the prize reached an estimated 3.8 billion people worldwide, giving the winner significant global visibility through KidsRights' platform and network.