Child rights activist Kailash Satyarthi bags Nobel Peace Prize

 

Mr Satyarthi, 60, who runs an NGO called Bachpan Bachao Andolan that is at the forefront of rescuing children from forced labour and trafficking, and 17-year-old Malala, who came into limelight after Taliban militants shot her for advocating education for girls, were named by the Nobel Peace Prize Committee for the top global award this year. 

 

Read: Nobel dedicated to country, will continue my fight: Kailash Satyarthi

 

“The Norwegian Nobel Committee has decided that the Nobel Peace Prize for 2014 is to be awarded to Kailash Satyarthi and Malala Yousafzai for their struggle against the suppression of children and young people and for the right of all children to education,” the jury said.

 

Mr Satyarthi has maintained the tradition of Mahatma Gandhi and headed various forms of peaceful protests “focusing on the grave exploitation of children for financial gain,” the Nobel Committee said. It added that it “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.”

Mr Satyarthi dedicated the award to Indians and vowed to work with renewed vigour against exploitation of children. 

 

Also Read: A look at winners of the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize