Malala and Kailash Satyarthi Win Nobel Peace Prize

10 October 2014 Last updated at 15:56

COMMENTS (731)

Pakistani child education activist Malala Yousafzai and Kailash Satyarthi, an Indian child rights campaigner, have jointlywon the Nobel Peace Prize.

At the age of just 17, Malala is the youngest ever recipient of the prize.

The teenager was shot in the head by Taliban gunmen in October 2012 for campaigning for girls' education. She now lives inBirmingham in the UK.

Malala said she was "honoured" to receive the award, saying it made her feel "more powerful and courageous".

She revealed she found out the news after being called out of her chemistry class at her school in Birmingham.

"I'm really happy to be sharing this award with a person from India," she said at a news conference, before joking that she couldn'tpronounce Mr Satyarthi's surname.

The Nobel committee praised the pair's "struggle against the suppression of children and young people".

Mr Satyarthi has maintained the tradition of Mahatma Gandhi and headed various forms of peaceful protests, "focusing on thegrave exploitation of children for financial gain," the committee said at the Nobel Institute in Oslo.

The 60-year-old founded Bachpan Bachao Andolan, or the Save the Childhood Movement, which campaigns for child rights andan end to human trafficking.

Reacting to the news, Mr Satyarthi told the BBC: "It's a great honour for all the Indians, it's an honour for all those children whohave been still living in slavery despite of all the advancement in technology, market and economy.

"And I dedicate this award to all those children in the world."

'Heroic struggle'Thorbjorn Jagland, chairman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, paid tribute to Malala's achievements.

"Despite her youth, Malala Yousafzai, has already fought for several years for the right of girls to education and has shown byexample that children and young people too can contribute to improving their own situations," he said.

"This she has done under the most dangerous circumstances. Through her heroic struggle she has become a leadingspokesperson for girls' rights to education."

The committee said it was important that a Muslim and a Hindu, a Pakistani and an Indian, had joined in what it called a commonstruggle for education and against extremism.

The view from Birmingham: Phil Mackie, BBC News

BBC News - Malala and Kailash Satyarthi win Nobel Peace Prize http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-29564935?print=true

1 of 4 10/11/2014 3:31 PM

When she opened the Library of Birmingham last year, Malala Yousafzai charmed the crowd by referring to them as "fellowBrummies". It was a deft touch from a teenager who many believe is destined for a life in politics either here or in her nativePakistan.

She arrived in the city in horrific circumstances after surviving an assassination attempt and was treated at the Queen ElizabethHospital, home to the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine.

The expertise gained by medics who are used to patching up wounded troops from conflict zones, meant it was the best place forher treatment.

She remains an outpatient, and today the hospital trust praised her for her "remarkable recovery and fight to lead a full life as avibrant and spirited teenager".

This year's prize is likely to be seen as an uncontroversial choice from a Norwegian Nobel committee which has not shied awayfrom controversy in recent years, says the BBC's Lars Bevanger in Oslo.

Norway's relations with China are still suffering after a Chinese dissident won the peace prize in 2010, our correspondent adds.

Malala and Mr Satyarthi will now be invited to attend an award ceremony in Oslo in December to receive a medal and $1.4m(£860,000) pounds in prize money.

'Pride of Pakistan'

Malala first came to attention in 2009 after she wrote an anonymous diary for BBC Urdu about life under Taliban rule innorth-west Pakistan.

She was shot when gunmen boarded her school bus in the Swat Valley.

She has since recovered from the attack and has remained in the public eye, publishing an autobiography and addressing theUN General Assembly.

Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif congratulated Malala Yousafzai, calling her the "pride" of his country.

"Her achievement is unparalleled and unequalled. Girls and boys of the world should take the lead from her struggle andcommitment," he said in a statement.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi joined thousands of Twitter users praising the pair, saying the entire nation was proud ofMr Satyarthi's "momentous achievement".

He also congratulated Malala for her "journey of immense grit and courage".

Malala was named one of Time magazine's most influential people in 2013, and awarded the EU's prestigious Sakharov humanrights prize that year.

She had been hotly tipped to win last year's Nobel Peace Prize.

Her win in 2014 takes the number of women awarded the prize to 16 out of 95.

This year's record number of 278 Nobel Peace Prize nominees included Pope Francis and Congolese gynaecologist DenisMukwege, although the full list was kept a secret.

Former NSA contractor Edward Snowden and Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta had also been tipped as favourites for theaward.


2 of 4 10/11/2014 3:31 PM

More videos from the BBC

Recommended by Outbrain

Elsewhere on BBCBBC NEWS - NEWS

Pastor caught with his pants down

BBC NEWS - NEWS

Man devastated by child rape error

BBC NEWS - NEWS

Police investigate baby boy's death

BBC TRAVEL

Is the banh mi the world’s best sandwich?

BBC CULTURE

Nine films to watch in October

BBC CAPITAL

The weirdest words ever used for sacking people?

Recommended by Outbrain

-1

Your comments (731)

CommentsThis entry is now closed for comments

Order by: Latest First Highest Rated Lowest Rated

731. hasnain010TH OCTOBER 2014 - 17:32"Nobel Prize" One of the worst political weapon over world politics! It'sseen very strange that Malala has got Nobel Prize! What is herachievement? What she done? Media done everything!!

Nobel Peace Prizes have been awarded 1901-2014

Nobel peace prize

16 women have been awarded the prize, including Malala Yousafzai

17 Malala's age, making her the youngest ever laureate

62 average age of laureates when they were awarded the prize

3 laureates were under arrest at the time of the award: Carl von Ossietzky, Aung SanSuu Kyi & Liu Xiaobo

Nobel Prize

Prince George 'harassment' warning Malala speech on Nobel Prize win Dewani parents: 'We want justice for Anni'

Fry tells 'ugly truth' in new book Teacher found dead filmed naked boys DJ gig that became a political rally

All Comments (731)


3 of 4 10/11/2014 3:31 PM

+5

+2

+7

+3

Comments 5 of 731 Show More

730. sambururob10TH OCTOBER 2014 - 17:35What a sad place the UK has become. Two people are given a prize fortrying to spread some peace in the world and the immediate action is forthe trolls to come out. I doubt if any of them have done anything remotelyapproaching having the effect of the two recipients on the world.

729. x1510TH OCTOBER 2014 - 17:34Well deserved - but let us see how this transforms the position of women'sright to full education in Pakistan rather than them having to leave Pakistan- rather than the fame of one individual. To elevate one whilst ignoring themany is a hollow outcome.

728. Rosemary10TH OCTOBER 2014 - 17:34Such joy this morning when I learned who had won the prize, now blightedby the sadness induced by reading some of these posts. Whatever iswrong with people who can feel such envy, resentment and hatred for anincredibly brave seventeen year old girl? It's beyond me.

727. KeepKalm10TH OCTOBER 2014 - 17:33695.marieinWestboro Baptists clearly are not following Jesus.+++Oh I see. So you get to decide who are the true followers of Christianityand Islam? Don't think Westboro Baptists Church will agree with youthough.

Sign in or Register to comment and rate comments

All posts are reactively-moderated and must obey the house rules.

More Europe stories

Concerns rise over US-EU trade talks[/news/business-29572475]There is rising concern over trade liberalisation talks between the EU and the US, with protests planned this weekend across Europe.Spain sets up Ebola 'crisis' group[/news/world-europe-29573865]S&P cuts France's credit outlook[/news/business-29578406]

BBC © 2014 The BBC is not responsible for the contentof external sites. Read more.


4 of 4 10/11/2014 3:31 PM

Documents

Malala and Kailash Satyarthi Win Nobel Peace Prize