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THE HAGUE, Dec. 2 (Xinhua) -- Sixteen-year-old Kehkashan Basu from the United Arab Emirates was awarded the International Children's Peace Prize on Friday afternoon.
Kehkashan was presented with the prestigious award for her fight for climate justice and against environmental degradation. When she was eight years old, she organized an awareness-raising campaign for waste recycling in her Dubai neighborhood, and in 2012 she founded her own organization, Green Hope, which runs waste-collection, beach-cleaning and awareness-raising campaigns.
Upon receiving the prize on Friday, Kehkashan said she would continue her work: "I will keep encouraging children and adults to create a more sustainable future. I call upon everyone to think of ways to contribute to the preservation of the environment," she said.
In line with tradition, the Children's Peace Prize was awarded by a Nobel Peace Laureate. In the presence of the world press and numerous prominent guests, Kehkashan received the prize from Muhammad Yunus, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 for his efforts for economic and social development.
Yunus underlined the urgency and importance of Kehkashan's work. "A healthy environment is essential for the survival, well-being and development of children, and therefore it is a precondition for the realization of the rights of the child," he said.
The International Children's Peace Prize is awarded annually to a child who fights courageously for children's rights. It is an initiative of KidsRights, the foundation committed to defending children's rights worldwide.
Friday marked the 12th consecutive year the prize was awarded. Previous winners include Nkosi Johnson, who fought for the rights of children with HIV/AIDS; and Malala Yousafzai, who was awarded for her activist work in education, particularly for girls. Last year's winner was Abraham M. Keita for his work in fighting physical and sexual violence.
