Afghan teen wins International Peace Prize for advocating girls’ rights

Nila Ebrahimi, a 17-year-old Afghan girl, has won the 20th International Children’s Peace Prize for her advocacy of women’s and girls’ rights.

The KidsRights Foundation announced in a statement that the award ceremony took place on Tuesday, November 19, at the Nieuwe Kerk in Amsterdam.

The prestigious award was presented to Nila by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Tawakkol Karman.

Ebrahimi was selected from 165 nominees representing 47 countries for her leadership in a protest movement through music and her efforts to support the rights of Afghan girls.

The ceremony was attended by prominent figures from around the world, including Princess Petra Laurentien of the Netherlands, Ann Skelton, Chair of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, Tawakkol Karman, 16 previous laureates of the prize, and representatives from various international organizations.

Marc Dullaert, founder and president of the KidsRights Foundation, stated: “Afghan women and girls face unbearable oppression. at least 2.5 million girls are denied education. Nila’s inspiring efforts to amplify the voices of these girls to the world have made her the winner of the 20th International Children’s Peace Prize.”

Following the Taliban’s ban on female singing, Nila protested by sharing a song online. At the age of 14, after the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan, she fled to Pakistan with her family before resettling in Canada.

Alongside her colleagues, Nila created an online platform called Her Story, encouraging girls to share their personal stories and experiences.

Nila Ebrahimi’s achievement highlights the resilience and determination of Afghan women and girls in the face of extreme adversity. Her work serves as a reminder of the importance of global support for the rights of women and girls in regions where they are systematically oppressed.

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