Education advocate, Malala Yousafzai, and children’s right activist Kailash Satyarthi were awarded the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize yesterday. The Nobel Committee reports that in developing nations, where 60% of the population is under 25 years old, there are 168 million child labourers. Both these activists have worked to peacefully support youth human rights, with a focus on access to education:

“Showing great personal courage, Kailash Satyarthi, maintaining Gandhi’s tradition, has headed various forms of protests and demonstrations, all peaceful, focusing on the grave exploitation of children for financial gain. He has also contributed to the development of important international conventions on children’s rights.

“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. This she has done under the most dangerous circumstances. Through her heroic struggle she has become a leading spokesperson for girls’ rights to education.

“The Nobel Committee regards 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.”

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