It was his mother, Janeth Marlene Zetino, to withdraw from the hands of Andrea Riccardi the special "Colombe d'oro" prize to the memory of William, the young Salvadorean of the Community of Sant' gidio killed by the maras for his engagement with the children in contrast to violence.

The delivery was accompanied by a standing ovation of the people present in the crowded room, as sign of participation to the story of this young peace-maker, whose life was stolen in violent manner by the maras.

The words of Janeth Quijano Zetino (ITA) >>>

The witness of Jaime Aguilar, responsible of the Community of Sant'Egidio in El Salvador (ITA) >>>

William Quijano Zetino, of the Community of Sant'Egidio, was killed 10 months ago, aging only 21 years, in a suburban district of San Salvador by a mara, one of the violent organized gangs that recruit poor youngsters in the peripheries of Central America.

In Central America at least 100,000 persons belong to the maras, that gradually rule over the most underprivileged districts. Their dominion is based on oppression; to survive, the residents should pay and many children and adolescents are compelled to take part in the criminal activities. The other "Colombe d'oro" prizes, assigned by the Jury of the Archivio Disarmo per la Pace, were assigned the journalists Mimmo Cándito of "La Stampa", historical war correspondant on countless fronts, from Afghanistan, to Iraq, to Kosovo, and Gabriele del Grande, founder of Fortress Europe, observatory of the phenomena and of the dramas of immigration.

The prize to an international personality was assigned to Jane Goodall, world-famous ethologist that broadened the initial study of primates until the defence of life in all its forms, including humanitarian engagement.