PRESS RELEASE
The European Union will use its Nobel Peace Prize award to fund four projects to help children affected by conflict worldwide, under the EU Children of Peace initiative.
On 10 December 2012, the European Union was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Along with the Nobel Peace- Prize medal, the EU received a cash prize of 8 million Swedish Krona (some € 930,000). The EU will double this amount, drawing on its own resources, and use the sum of € 2.0 million (about 4.6 million FJD) to fund four projects under the EU Children of Peace initiative, reaching out to over 23,000 children worldwide, to provide access to basic education and child-friendly spaces.
The four projects to be funded under this initiative will help
* some 4,000 Syrian refugee children, in camps at the border between Iraq and Syria;
* more than 5,000 Colombian children, among them refugees in Ecuador and members of indigenous groups in Colombia;
* 11,000 Congolese children displaced in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo, and in refugee camps in Ethiopia;
* and 3,000 Pakistani children, in the conflict-affected north of the country.
European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said: “It was obvious for us that the Nobel Peace Prize money should be allocated to the most vulnerable who are often the hardest hit by wars: the children of this world. We want all children to enjoy the constant protection of their rights. Each and every girl and boy in the world should have the opportunity to develop their talents. Promoting education is also giving peace a chance to be a lasting peace.”
The EU Children of Peace Initiative will not be a one-off action: new funding will be made available next year for more projects in support of children in conflict.
Background:
Today, 45% of the victims of conflict are children. Seven million children have left their countries as refugees, and more than twelve million children are displaced within their own country due to conflict. The European Union strongly believes the best ways to help and protect children when they are deprived of the opportunity to reach their full potential as a result of violent conflict is to give them the opportunity to learn again. Of the approximately 75 million children, including 20 million girls, who are out of school worldwide, more than half live in conflict affected areas.