World Bank Group president Jim Yong Kim has hailed 2014 Nobel Peace Prize laureates Indian social activist Kailah Satyarthi and Pakistani teenager Malala Yousufzai for their shared commitment against exploitation of children.
"We laud the Nobel Committee's honouring of Kailash Satyarthi with the Peace Prize for his tireless and brave efforts to fight child slavery and promote the rights of children," he said in a statement.
"Bachpan Bachao Andolan -- the Save Childhood Movement -- which Satyarthi founded, preserves the great moral tradition of Mahatma Gandhi in using peaceful protest to call attention to injustice and continues to rescue countless young people from manipulation and abuse," Kim said.
"The world," he said, "today stands in awe of Malala, a 17-year-old Nobel Prize winner who could not be stopped by the Taliban's threats nor their spray of bullets. Instead, we all hear her voice on the importance of tolerance and education for all."
"She has given hope to girls around the world. Her message is: go to school, learn well, a brighter future is ahead of you. For girls everywhere, that message is just what they need to hear," Kim said.
The World Bank chief said: "Both of these laureates share a common commitment to ensuring that all children -- boys and girls -- are not exploited but are educated and respected as human beings."
