3 October :Young child journalist Jamiul Hasan Araf of Sylhet has been recognised internationally for his work promoting children’s rights, preventing child labour and child marriage, and creating educational opportunities for disadvantaged children. He has been officially nominated from Bangladesh for the International Children’s Peace Prize 2026 by Kids Rights, a Netherlands-based organization dedicated to children’s rights.
KidsRights recently published the official list of nominees for the 2026 award on its website, where Araf’s name appears as Bangladesh’s representative. The organization has presented the award annually since 2005 to recognize courageous efforts to protect the rights of children and initiatives that contribute to positive social change. The award is widely known around the world as the “Nobel Prize for children”.
Araf was inspired to work on children’s rights after witnessing the struggles of disadvantaged children around him during his childhood. The hardships faced by children engaged in labour, the risks associated with child marriage and the loss of educational opportunities due to poverty motivated him to speak out on these issues. He later turned to journalism as a means of highlighting children’s problems and the denial of their rights.
Through reports published by the child-focused news outlet Hello.BDNews24.com, Araf has covered children’s fundamental rights, the quality of education, environmental protection and the impact of climate change. By highlighting issues affecting children’s lives at local and national levels, he has worked to raise public awareness and draw the attention of policymakers.
KidsRights’ profile of Araf identifies the elimination of child labour, prevention of child marriage and the right to education as central themes of his work. It also notes his efforts to promote awareness aimed at ensuring a safe environment for children, strengthening their legal and social protection, and challenging harmful social misconceptions and practices.
Alongside journalism, Araf has worked at grassroots level for children’s welfare through his involvement with various voluntary and social organizations. His engagement in such activities forms part of his efforts to understand children’s challenges directly and bring their rights and concerns into public discussion.
His nomination for the International Children’s Peace Prize provides an opportunity to bring Jamiul Hasan Araf’s work on children’s rights to greater international attention. He has expressed his determination to continue using journalism and awareness-building activities to promote children’s protection, their right to education and their prospects for a dignified future.