Children met the Peace Prize winners

Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit. Photo: Terje Pedersen / NTB scanpix

Children met the Peace Prize winners and Royals

The Nobel Peace Prize Winners and Crown Prince couple were welcomed by school students from Oslo when they arrived at the Save the Children Peace Prize Party at the Nobel Peace Center on Monday.

 

Vilja Lande and Abdullah Ouro Agouda are both twelve years old and attend Sagene School in Oslo.

While she was honoured to welcome Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit, he welcomed Nadia Murad and Denis Mukwege. The two are receiving the peace prize for their fight against sexual violence in war.

“There are very many who push the topic away because it is very difficult. That is not okay. You can not just push it away because it’s a bad topic, says Will to NTB.

They are clear that this theme is not too heavy and difficult to talk about with children.

“No, because this is something that has happened to children. If people do not talk about it, think of the child concerned and her experience, and if you then will not talk about it because it’s too cruel. That is not okay,” says Will.

Both believe that this Peace Prize will help.

“Then more eyes that open and know that this is actually a big problem which happens to many children and adults, the better, ” they say.

Had mixed feelings

Nadia Murad said she had mixed feelings when she learned that she had won the Nobel Peace Prize.

“It was surprising and at the same time, I was happy. I realized that this could be a chance to help children who have a hard time around the world,” she said.

Denis Mukwege attempted to explain how someone can treat children so cruelly.

“Sexual violence is a weapon that not only traumatizes victims. It traumatizes the entire community. When something happens to your child, you lose the ability to fight for yourself and your children,” he said.

He urged everyone to take responsibility for making the world better.

Long tradition

The children explained and illustrated why these are getting the Peace prize and showed why the fight against sexual assault used as a weapon in war is so important.

In addition to the Peace Prize winners and Crown prince couple, Oslo’s mayor Marianne Borgen, the Peace Center’s director Liv Tørres, the Nobel Committee’s Deputy, Henrik Syse,  Save the Children’s General Secretary Birgitte Lange and the organization’s chairman Nils Øverås were among the guests.

Save the Children’s Peace Prize Party has been part of the official Nobel Peace Prize Program since 1997 and is a party made by and for children. This year’s party committee consisted of twelve Seven formers from Grünerløkka and Sagene Schools in Oslo.

 

© NTB scanpix / #Norway Today