Nobel Laureate and SDG Advocate Professor Muhammad Yunus presented the International Peace Prize on December 2 to 16 year old environmental activist Kehkashan Basu at the Grand Hall of Knights at the Hague. The Prize is awarded annually to an exceptional child, whose courageous or otherwise remarkable actions have made a difference in improving children’s rights. The prize was launched by KidsRights during the 2005 World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates in Rome.
Professor Yunus, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 for his efforts for economic and social development, in his keynote speech at the ceremony underlined the urgency and importance of Kehkashan’s work, as more than three million children under the age of five die every year from environment-related diseases and many more suffer deeply from environmental issues. Professor Yunus said: “It is a great achievement for such a young person to already have such reach and impact with her important message. A healthy environment is essential for the survival, well-being and development of children, and therefore it is a precondition for the realization of the rights of the child. Kehkashan teaches us that we all have a responsibility to work towards a sustainable future.”
Earlier in the trip Professor Muhammad Yunus delivered key note speech at the Trust Women Conference on December 1, 2016 in London on the role of entrepreneurship in shaping societies in the right direction to achieve the three zeroes – zero poverty, zero unemployment and zero net carbon emissions.
Professor Yunus also delivered a speech on Social Business – the Business Model for the Future at London Business School (LBS) at Regents Park, London on the same day. In the Netherlands, Professor Yunus addressed Leiden University College (LUC) in the Hague on the theme of “The Power of Social Business – a Future for All” attended by 250 students and faculties. Both LBS UK and LUC in the Hague are working to set up social business centres in the near future following Prof Yunus’ principles.