Concerned for Working Children nominated for nobel prize

Concerned for Working Children nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize

Dear Friends,
Greeting from the Concerned for Working Children.
We have some good news to share with you.
We have been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by the Norwegian Parliamentary Committee. Please find here, the link to the announcement by Ms. Linda Hofstad Helleland, Member of the Parliament, Norway.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTTi4-CMcds
This has come to us as a surprise and it still has not sunk in.....
The credit goes to our primary constituency and partners – working children – and the many battles they have fought in numerous forums at home and around the world for their voices to be heard. Their struggle has always been a peaceful one and now one of patience as they continue their crusade in an environment that not only does not recognise them as workers, but has criminalised their work.
We have a long way to go and so much more needs to be done. Children’s democratic participation and their right to determine the course of their lives – the present and future – by transforming the past and making choices is barely recognised in the letter. In practice it is largely believed that using compulsion to make children ‘participate’ in services that are provided – be it health care or education – without allowing children to determine the nature and quality of these services, is a fulfilment of children’s rights. We, adults by and large, still think that we know what is best for children and that children don’t.
We, as an organisation have always celebrated small victories, but this is a huge leap for the cause. It is a recognition of Children’s’ Right to Participation, one of the most fundamental rights enabling an individual to determine the path of their existence.
We are a small organisation and yet we have managed to impact on child rights policy and programming both locally and globally, bringing the right to children’s participation and self-determination centre stage. This nomination is in itself a great honour.
We could not have done this without the support of so many of you around the world who have contributed to our vision and strategies and given us the strength to pursue our goals. You have also at times been our severest critics and we appreciate your inputs and involvement in this cause.
On behalf of the children we work with and all our colleagues at the Concerned for Working Children we thank you all and look forward to your continued support and involvement in this cause.
Damodar Acharya Nandana Reddy Executive Director Director Development The Concerned for Working Children, 303/2, L. B. Shastri Nagar, Vimanapura Post, Bangalore - 560017. Ph: +91 80 25234270/258/611 Web: www.workingchild.org CWC