Bana Alabed has been using her voice to promote peace since she was 7 years old. Growing up amid a deadly civil war in Syria, a country in the Middle East, she drew attention to the plight of children in conflict by publicly documenting her childhood on social media.

Now 15 years old and a refugee living in Turkey, Alabed continues to advocate for children affected by war. Her tireless work is the reason Alabed is the 2025 International Children’s Peace Prize winner. Presented by the KidsRights Foundation and the Global Child Forum, the award goes to an outstanding young person “who courageously fights for children’s rights.”

Experts estimate that about 1 out of every 6 children around the world lives in an area affected by conflict. Alabed has been working to help reopen schools and reunite families torn apart in war. Her efforts have focused on children in Syria, Ukraine, Gaza, and Sudan.

“Peace is not a luxury. The world must listen to us. Our childhood has been stolen due to wars and conflicts,” said Alabed when she was nominated. “We want peace, and to those children who are suffering in the wars, you are not alone.”

Here is more about the other two finalists for the 2025 International Children’s Peace Prize:

• Aeshnina “Nina” Azzahra Aqilani (17 years old, Indonesia): No one wants their home to be treated like a trash can, but unfortunately, many Western countries export their plastic waste to other places, like Indonesia. Aqilani has combined environmental and international advocacy to help ban this harmful practice and make the world a cleaner, more just place.

• Divyansh Agrawal (16 years old, United States): Proving no one is too young to give back to their community, Agrawal founded the Junior Philanthropists Foundation. This teen-led organization focuses on the way climate laws affect children’s rights. It has already helped pass 18 environmental bills in the state of California.