Bana al-abed, a 15-year-old Syrian activist and survivor of the 2016 Aleppo siege, has been awarded the 2025 International Children’s Peace Prize, the world’s most prestigious recognition for young changemakers. The award was presented during a distinguished ceremony at Stockholm’s historic City Hall by Nobel Peace Prize laureate and human rights activist Tawakkol Karman of Yemen.
The prize recognizes Bana’s tireless efforts to support children affected by conflict, including reuniting displaced children with their families, rebuilding schools, and promoting education and advocacy initiatives that provide hope for future generations.
Now residing in Turkey, Bana has emerged as a leading voice for children in warzones, advocating for peace, justice, and access to education. Having lived through the siege of Aleppo, she witnessed firsthand the devastation caused by conflict, losing loved ones including her best friend, Yasmine. These experiences strengthened her determination to defend children’s rights and ensure that no child suffers as she and her peers did.
Bana began her activism at a young age, documenting the realities of war through diaries, blogs, and social media. Her “Stand with Aleppo” campaign, which called for the lifting of the siege affecting over 360,000 civilians, gained international attention and support, including recognition from French President Emmanuel Macron. Bana became widely known as the “Icon of Aleppo,” highlighting the urgent need for global action to protect children in conflict.
Beyond advocacy, Bana has undertaken concrete initiatives to address the needs of affected children. She has focused on reuniting 5,000 missing Syrian children with their families, reopening schools destroyed by the conflict, and providing displaced youth with access to education and safe housing.
In addition to her humanitarian work, Bana is an accomplished author and speaker. Her books, Dear World and My Name is Bana, translated into 15 languages, provide a firsthand account of life during the Syrian war. She has contributed to global publications, participated in documentaries such as Voices from Syria, and conducted workshops for refugee children in Turkey and Jordan, offering both educational and psychological support.
Commenting on her award, Bana stated: “Peace is not a luxury. The world must listen to us. Our childhood has been stolen due to wars and conflicts. We want peace, and to those children who are suffering in the wars, you are not alone.”
By winning the International Children’s Peace Prize, Bana received the Nkosi Statuette, the Desmond Tutu Study and Care Grant, and €75,000 to support her projects, with €50,000 allocated to her initiatives and €25,000 directed by KidsRights to other young changemakers advocating for children’s rights.
Marc Dullaert, chair of the expert committee and founder of KidsRights, praised Bana’s contributions, stating: “Bana embodies the spirit of courage, resilience, and commitment to justice that the International Children’s Peace Prize represents. Despite immense challenges, she has transformed her experiences into a platform for advocacy, inspiring the global community to protect the millions of children affected by conflict.”
Bana joins the ranks of distinguished past laureates, including Malala Yousafzai, Greta Thunberg, and Nkosi Johnson, continuing a legacy of youth-led global change. Her achievements highlight the importance of international solidarity in addressing the needs of children in conflict zones and promoting a peaceful future for all.
