ECPAT is delighted that the Norwegian Nobel Committee has selected two champions for child rights, Malala Yousafzai and Kailash Satyarthi, as the recipients of the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize.
Malala Yousafzai, the youngest ever recipient of the award, is an inspiration to children everywhere for her courageous efforts to fight for her own right to education. She is an amazing example of how young people can actively participate in social change.
Kailash Satyarthi has dedicated his life to protecting children from child labour, working to ensure that they are treated with dignity and respect and giving voice to the world’s forgotten children.
When children are deprived of education opportunities or exploited through child labour, the risk of sexual exploitation is amplified. Millions of children around the world are at risk for commercial sexual exploitation and voices like Malala and Kailash give us hope in our fight to ensure the safety of these children. We are inspired by children and young people like Malala who are fighting for their fundamental rights, including the opportunity to attend school. We are encouraged by leaders like Kailash who work to protect children in vulnerable circumstances.
On behalf of ECPAT’s global movement dedicated to protecting children from commercial sexual exploitation, we congratulate Malala and Kailash. May their work inspire further action for children everywhere.
Photo: World Bank Photo Collection