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Monrovia – Two Liberians, 13-year-old Dianon Kollie a female, and 17-year-old Jutomue Doetein a male, are among 121 other kids drawn from countries around the world to contest for the 2018 version of the International Children’s Peace Prize, slated for Cape Town, South Africa, on 20 November.
The prestigious Children’s Peace Prize is awarded annually to a child who fights courageously to promote the rights of the child.
This year’s award ceremony, according to the organizer KidsRights, is a very special tribute to South African archbishop, Nobel Peace Laureate and the official patron of the International Children’s Peace Prize, Desmond Tutu, who will present the prize to the winner in a ceremony expected to be attended by dignitaries and the world press.
A statement posted on KidsRights’ website quotes the organization’s founder Marc Dullaert, as saying, “Every year the International Children’s Peace Prize is a magnificent celebration of children’s rights and the abilities of young changemakers who move the world,” adding that “This edition will be very special indeed, as 2018 marks the fifteenth anniversary of the KidsRights Foundation. We have therefore decided to honour archbishop Tutu, our patron and a man who has dedicated his life to protecting and empowering children, by taking the ceremony to him.”
‘Liberia’s nominees’ stories’
Both Dianon and Jutomue, like the other nominees for this year’s award, and many other children in all parts of the world, have captivating stories to tell, as at very tender ages on their life journey, they are striving to make a difference in a world plagued by countless occurrences of varying forms of injustice being perpetrated against children on a daily basis.
Thirteen-year-old Dianon’s story is indeed a telling one, as a one who lives in a rural community in Liberia, she lost her mother at a young age and the National Kids Talent Service, which nominated her for this year’s award, supported her with shelter and education.
Dianon is now committed to helping other girls to access education, by helping girls in rural communities with the logistics of enrolling for school and with continuing their education.
She has helped to improve education management, including the mapping of schools, connecting children and their families with community services that stimulate growth and learning, and she has improved the capacity of rural communities to respond to issues of education for girls.
Dianon also helps and supports underprivileged children and street children who show talent.
For Jutomue, who is the Speaker of the Liberia National Children Representative Forum, he speaks out for the underprivileged children of Liberia.
He campaigned for peace and protection of children during Liberia’s turbulent electoral periods, having witnessed and experienced the devastating injustices suffered by children during this time, including child abuse and violence, child rape and the conscription of child soldiers.
Jutomue, who was nominated by the Youth Coalition for Education (YOCEL) campaigns against children being forced into child labor or prostitution in order to support themselves and their families.
In 2017, Jutomue also lobbied against the decision of the Liberian Senate to amend rape law, making it a bailable offense. He publicly called upon the Senate to make the court accessible and provide rape victims with proper medical attention and protection.
He aspires to work for the United Nations or a foreign agency in the future, to continue advocating for the rights of children, young people and women, with the ambition of creating a children’s parliament to empower the children of Liberia.
‘Prize motivation’
The International Children’s Peace Prize which is an annual event dedicated to awarding an exceptional child, whose courageous or otherwise remarkable actions have made a difference in improving children’s rights, which helps children worldwide, has got as its motivation, the aim to provide a platform for children to express their ideas and personal involvement in children’s rights.
According to KidsRights, the organization feels that children should be recognized, awarded and motivated in their fierce efforts to improve their own situation and that of the children in their environment and even the world.
The prize was launched by KidsRights during the 2005 World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates in Rome, chaired by Mikhail Gorbachev. Since then, the prize has been presented every year by a Nobel Peace Laureate.
‘The Nkosi Prize’
Each year, the International Children’s Peace Prize winner receives the statuette ‘Nkosi’ (name of the prize), which is a small statue that shows how a child sets the world in motion.
This statute is designed by Inge Ikink and is named after KidRights’ very first winner, Nkosi Johnson , according to information posted on the organization’s website, which adds that “The winner also receives a study and care grant and a worldwide platform to promote his or her ideals and causes to the benefit of children’s rights. Furthermore, a project fund of €100,000 is invested by KidsRights in projects that are closely connected to the winners’ area of work in the country of the winner.”
‘Liberia wins 2015 prize’
In 2015, a Liberian, 17-year-old Abraham M. Keita became the winner of the International Children’s Peace Prize.
Keita was presented with the prestigious award for demanding justice for children who are victims of physical or sexual violence, and for successfully campaigning for the National Legislature in his home country to adopt the Children’s Law.
Keita received the prize in The Hague from Nobel Peace Laureate and his countrywoman Leymah Roberta Gbowee, who jointly won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2011 with fellow Liberian ex-president Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and Yemeni women’s rights activist and journalist Tawakkul Karman, for their nonviolent struggle for the safety of women and for women’s rights.
At the time, Gbowee said: “It is a great honour to award the Prize. It is very special and inspiring that Keita, already at such a young age, demands that perpetrators and would be perpetrators be held accountable. I recognize in him a true changemaker: fighting to end the extreme violence against children!”
In September of 2015, Nobel Peace Laureate Desmond Tutu, patron of KidsRights and the International Children’s Peace Prize, had earlier announced the nomination of Keita together with Aziza Rahim Zada from Afghanistan and Jeanesha Bou from Puerto Rico.
Keita was nominated by SURE Liberia, for among others, tirelessly working as a campaigner, bringing attention to crimes against children and campaigning until the perpetrators are locked away, standing out to convince the jury. Keita also played a leading role in the Liberian Children’s Parliament where he successfully lobbied the National Legislature to adopt the Children’s Law to protect children’s rights.
