AMSTELVEEN, the Netherlands, January 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

The KidsRights Foundation has today officially started the nomination process for the International Children's Peace Prize 2016. KidsRights each year awards this prestigious prize to a brave boy or girl, regardless of race, place of birth or social standing, who has demonstrated the skill and determination necessary to personally improve the rights of children. These children deserve recognition and a global platform to continue their work on an international scale. KidsRights therefore calls upon individuals and organizations worldwide to nominate eligible children or youths. 

This year will be the 12^th consecutive year that the prize is awarded. KidsRights is very proud of the international prominence the International Children's Peace Prize has gained over the years, but even prouder of the growth and accomplishments we have observed in past winners. Take Malala Yousafzai, for example, who won in 2013 and went on to win the Nobel Peace Prize the very next year. Or last year's winner Abraham M. Keita; by winning the award he gained an international platform which enabled him to spread his powerful message of justice for children who are victims of violence among an audience of hundreds of millions of people worldwide.

Nominating this year's potential winners      

Like Malala and Keita, there are countless young changemakers in the world; children or youths who deserve recognition for their successes in promoting children's rights. KidsRights needs help in finding this year's potential winners. We therefore call upon individuals and organizations to nominate those children or youths who they believe deserve recognition. Nominated children must meet the nomination requirements, which can be found on the website. The deadline for entries is March 14^th 2016.  

Nomination criteria: 

• The nominee must be a girl or boy above 12 and under 18 years of age;
• From anywhere in the world;
• The child must have a clear history of standing up and fighting for his/her own rights and/or the rights of other children. It is important that the child have an active approach in accomplishing this goal, which has led to a concrete result;
• The child agrees to being nominated for the International Children's Peace Prize.

The nomination form and the full list of criteria can be found on the website of the International Children's Peace Prize: http://www.childrenspeaceprize.org.

About the International Children's Peace Prize 

The International Children's Peace Prize is awarded annually to a child who fights courageously for children's rights. Every year, the message of the new young winner has enormous impact and demonstrates to millions of people globally that change is possible. In 2016 the prize will be awarded for the 12^th consecutive year. Previous winners include Nkosi Johnson, who fought for the rights of children with AIDS, and Malala Yousafzai, who won the International Children's Peace Prize in 2013 before winning the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014.

The International Children's Peace Prize is an initiative of Marc Dullaert, founder of the KidsRights Foundation. It was launched in 2005 during the World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates in Rome, chaired by Mikhail Gorbachev. During the nomination process the expert committee of the prize receives nominations from countries all over the world. Very remarkable, but often unknown, brave children have been discovered through the annual nomination process.

The International Children's Peace Prize is presented by a Nobel Peace Laureate. The winner receives the statuette 'Nkosi', which portrays a child setting the world in motion, as well as a study grant and a worldwide platform to promote his or her ideals and causes for the benefit of children's rights. Furthermore, KidsRights invests the sum of €100,000 in projects in the winner's home country that are closely connected to his or her area of work.

Please visit the website for more information about the International Children's Peace Prize: http://www.childrenspeaceprize.org.

About KidsRights Foundation 

KidsRights is an international non-governmental organization that promotes the wellbeing of very vulnerable children across the world and advocates the realisation of their rights. KidsRights strives for a world where all children have access to their rights and are enabled to realise the great potential they carry within them. KidsRights sees children as changemakers with the power to move the world, and facilitates in voicing their opinions and taking action in order to bring about change.

KidsRights supports children by commanding global attention for the realisation of children's rights and acting as a catalyst to ignite change, together with children and youths. We support this with research and action. In order to gain insight into the status of children's rights, KidsRights frequently conducts research. The foundation also finances local projects aimed at directly improving the rights of vulnerable children and stimulating child participation and change-making by youths. Please visit our website to find out more about KidsRights: http://www.kidsrights.org.

About KidsRights & ABN AMRO 

ABN AMRO is committed to investing in the future and being engaged in society. To this end, ABN AMRO has chosen a motto for its sponsorship and foundation activities: 'Partner of the Future'. The bank supports people and organisations seeking to achieve a goal by helping them discover their talents or realise their ambitions, and by stimulating people to reach their full potential. ABN AMRO has been a partner of the Dutch children's rights organization KidsRights since 2006, working together to enable the International Children's Peace Prize. Children set the world in motion; the International Children's Peace Prize provides them with a platform to make the world a better place. More information: http://www.abnamro.com/partnervandetoekomst

SOURCE KidsRights