"Malala Yousafzai and Kailash Satyarthi have inspired the world with their their courageous efforts on behalf of children everywhere -- for their fundamental right to be educated, to live free of fear and exploitation, to fulfill their unique potential," said Jim.
Malala's bravery in raising her voice and standing up to the brutal extremism in her own country Pakistan has given new hope to girls everywhere, he said.
"Both follow in the tradition of Nobel Peace laureates before them, championing the most fundamental rights of all human beings, including and especially the youngest and most vulnerable among us," he said.
"They have led us by example, fulfilling the vision of Mahatma Gandhi and the words of Dr Martin Luther King Jr, who said that 'peace is not a distant goal that we seek, but a means by which we arrive at that goal.'"