More than 100 children representing schools in Kathmandu, Nuwakot and Sindhupalchowk today held a press meet on the premises of Maiti Nepal to speak out about their rights.

The press meet coincided with the event in 107 countries for the announcement of this year’s winner of the World’s Children’s Prize.

During the programme, Anna Mollel, a Tanzanian woman working for the rights of children with disabilities, was declared the winner of the prestigious prize.

About 2.7 million schoolchildren below 18 years of age had exercised their rights to select their favourite child rights activist and call on the governments for the protection of children’s rights to attend school, informed programme host Priya Sherpa.

They also demanded an end to all kinds of violence against the children. The children representing 57,982 schools had voted for the 13 contestants nominated for the prize.

Children at Bhmidevi Secondary School, Shivalaya Lower Secondary School, Borlangbhumi Lower Secondary School of Nuwakot, Thulo Thakani Secondary School of Sindhupalchowk ,Teresa Academy, Pyramid International School, Pathfinder School, Sharada Secondary School and Shree Satya Sai School of Kathmandu had cast their votes.

Queen Silvia of Sweden is the patrol of the prize, which carries a purse of $100,000. Punam Pandey, a schoolgirl, was a jury member on behalf of the country.

source: The Himalayan Times,4 June 2012