Casa Alianza Runner Up In World's Children's Prize In Sweden

Covenant House
Monday, 15 April 2002

Casa Alianza received a special recognition from Queen Silvia of Sweden this afternoon as a runner up in what is known internationally as the "Nobel Prize for children", for its struggle to defend the human rights of Central America's children.

The main prize and US$ 50,000 award went to the late Nkosi Johnson, a 12 year old South African boy who died as a result of AIDS. Nkosi, who was born infected with the virus that causes AIDS, became an outspoken critic of the South African government which refuses to provide medication to pregnant mothers who are HIV infected. Such medication could reduce the risk of passing the AIDS virus to their newborns.

The Casa Alianza recognition was received from Queen Silvia by Jose Luis Medina Cortez, a ten year old Honduran boy from the city of El Progreso, who spoke out about the murders of children in Honduras. Jose Luis' 16 year old brother Oscar was illegally detained along with his friend by the Honduran police -- according to witnesses -- and was tortured and then murdered. Oscar is one of the more than 1,160 children and youth who have been murdered in Honduras since January 1998.

The World's Children's Prize ceremony was held in the exclusive 15th century Gripsholm Castle, about 100km from Stockholm, with a crowd of several hundred diplomats, national Swedish leaders and international press. This is the 3rd year of the prize, which is organized jointly by Save the Children; the Swedish Red Cross; Church of Sweden Aid; Forum Syd; the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation; Diakonia and Caritas Sweden.

The Casa Alianza delegation included Salome Us Tino, a former street child from Guatemala; Rene Duarte, a Street Educator from Casa Alianza Honduras; and Bruce Harris, the Regional Director for Latin American Programs. Some 30 children from around the world, including the delegation from Casa Alianza, will make presentations to schools around Sweden regarding the rights of children in their respective countries for the next 10 days.

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