Bana al-Abed, a sixteen-year-old Syrian activist who first became known for her tweets during the siege of Aleppo, has been awarded this year’s International Children’s Peace Prize. The KidsRights Foundation announced the honor on Wednesday, recognizing her tireless advocacy for children living in war zones.
Bana became a global symbol of civilian suffering in 2016 when, at age seven, she documented life under bombardment in Aleppo. After being evacuated to Turkey with her family, she continued using her voice to highlight the struggles of young people affected by conflict.
According to KidsRights, her work focuses on reuniting families, advocating for the reopening of schools and delivering hope to children in regions such as Gaza, Sudan, Ukraine and Syria. She has attended international conferences, visited refugee camps in Turkey and Jordan and authored two books that reflect her journey and mission.
Her activism has earned widespread recognition from world leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron. During her acceptance speech at Stockholm City Hall, Bana issued a direct appeal to global powerbrokers and warring factions, calling out leaders from Syria, Israel, Russia and Sudan.
“With a voice that knows no fear,” she asked how many children had lost their dreams to war and challenged those who use violence as a political tool. She vowed that children’s suffering would not be forgotten and that her generation would refuse to stay silent.
In an interview before the ceremony, Bana emphasized that education remains the most urgent need for children affected by war. She said schooling provides hope, opportunity and the chance to grow, especially for those forced to mature far too quickly in conflict settings.
Bana has not returned to Syria since her evacuation, but she hopes to help rebuild the country’s shattered education system. She described schools with no desks, books or basic materials, where students often sit on cold floors — conditions she hopes to change.
She is also advocating for the reunification of the 5,000 Syrian children who were forcibly separated from their families during the war and whose whereabouts remain unknown.
KidsRights founder Marc Dullaert praised Bana’s “courage, resilience and unwavering commitment to justice,” noting that she has transformed personal hardship into a global platform for change. Previous recipients of the award include Greta Thunberg and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai.
