Nila Ebrahimi, a 17-year-old girl from Afghanistan, has won the International Children’s Peace Prize awarded by the “Children’s Rights” organization for her efforts in advocating for women’s and girls’ rights.
The organization supporting children’s rights in the Netherlands announced that Nila has been awarded the 2024 Children’s Peace Prize as one of the founders of the platform “Her Story.”
The announcement stated that Nila Ebrahimi was selected as the winner from among 165 nominees from 48 countries around the world.
It further noted that “Her Story” is recognized as a safe space for sharing the stories of girls and women in Afghanistan.
The organization emphasized that through the “Her Story” program, Nila highlights the potential, capabilities, and resilience of Afghan girls, both inside and outside Afghanistan.
The organization added that she fights for the right to education for all girls and women who have been deprived of education due to the discriminatory bans imposed by the current government.
Additionally, the announcement mentioned that before the current government’s takeover, Nila recorded her singing to pressure Kabul education officials to lift the ban on schoolgirls singing in public, sharing her recordings on social media.
The announcement quoted Mark Doolart, founder and president of the Children’s Rights Foundation, stating: “Women and girls across Afghanistan are currently facing unbearable oppression. The ban on education beyond primary school has resulted in an astonishing deprivation of 2.5 million girls in Afghanistan from schooling. Nila’s inspiring work in providing a voice that is heard around the world makes her a truly deserving winner of this year’s 20th International Children’s Peace Prize.”
Mark Doolart emphasized that Nila Ebrahimi has been recognized for leading a musical protest movement in Afghanistan and inspiring other Afghan girls to demand their rights and fight against injustice through public speeches and international activities.
It is worth noting that the International Children’s Peace Prize is awarded annually by one of the Nobel Peace Prize winners, and this year it was presented to Nila Ebrahimi by Tawakkol Abdul Salam Khaled Kerman.
While Ms. Ebrahimi receives this award, girls above sixth grade have been banned from education.
The restrictions imposed by the current government have left millions of schoolgirls without access to education.
Additionally, women have been prohibited from going to sports clubs, restaurants, public baths, receiving medical examinations by male doctors, traveling without a male guardian, and working in domestic and international NGOs, as well as even at UN offices in Afghanistan.
