The Norwegian Nobel Committee has awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for 2014 to Kailash Satyarthi from India and Malala Yousafzay from Pakistan for their struggle against the suppression of children and young people and for the right of all children to education.
In a statement, the Nobel committee said “Despite her youth, Malala Yousafzay has already fought for several years for the right of girls to education, and has shown by example that children and young people, too, can contribute to improving their own situations”.
The committee said that Satyarthi maintained Mahatma Gandhi’s tradition, has headed various forms of protests and demonstrations, all peaceful, focusing on the grave exploitation of children for financial gain.
The Nobel Committee also said that it as an important point for a Hindu and a Muslim, an Indian and a Pakistani, to join in a common struggle for education and against extremism.
Kailash Satyarthi is an Indian children’s rights activist.Kailash Satyarthi was born on 11 January 1954 in Vidisha, Madhya Pradesh.
He founded the Bachpan Bachao Andolan(Save the Childhood Movement) in 1980 and has acted to protect the rights of 80,000 children.
Malala Yousafzai was born on July 12, 1997, in Mingora, Pakistan. As a child, she became an advocate for girls’ education.On October 9, 2012, a gunman shot Malala when she was traveling home from school. She survived, and has continued to speak out on the importance of education.
