Jim Young Kim congratulates Kailash Satyarthi, Malala Yousafzai on winning Nobel peace prize

WASHINGTON: World Bank President Jim Young Kim today congratulated Indian anti-child labour activist Kailash Satyarthi and Pakistani teenager Malala Yousafzai on winning the Nobel Peace Prize.

"Both 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," Kim said.

"We laud the Nobel Committee's honouring of Kailash Satyarthi with the Peace Price for his tireless and brave efforts to fight child slavery and promote the rights of children."

He also underlined, "Bachpan Bachao Andolan (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 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," he said.