Nobel Peace Prize: Malala Yousafzai, Kailash Satyarthi win for struggle against suppression of children

Pakistani teenager Malala Yousafzai, who was shot in the head by the Taliban in 2012 for advocating girls' right to education, and Indian children's right activist Kailash Satyarthi have won the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize.

With the prize, Ms Yousafzai, 17, becomes the youngest Nobel Prize winner, eclipsing Australian-born British scientist Lawrence Bragg, who was 25 when he shared the Physics Prize with his father in 1915.

The Norwegian Nobel Committee said the pair were awarded the prize for their struggle against the suppression of children and young people.

"The Nobel Committee regards it as an important point for a Hindu and a Muslim, an Indian and a Pakistani, to join in a common struggle for education and against extremism," committee head Thorbjoern Jagland said.

"It has been calculated that there are 168 million child labourers around the world today.

"In 2000 the figure was 78 million higher. The world has come closer to the goal of eliminating child labour."

Speaking from Birmingham in Britain, where she now lives and is going to school, Ms Yousafzai said she was "honoured" to be given the award and dedicated the win to children around the world.

"This award is for all those children who are voiceless, whose voices need to be heard," she said.

During her speech Ms Yousafzai said she has invited the Indian and Pakistani prime ministers to the prize-giving ceremony.

"I myself requested that honourable prime minister Narendra Modi and honourable prime minister Nawaz Sharif both join us," she said, referring to a conversation she had with Mr Satyarthi.

Malala's 'heroic' struggle under 'dangerous circumstances'

Ms Yousafzai was attacked in 2012 on a school bus in the Swat Valley in north-west Pakistan by masked gunmen as a punishment for a blog that she started writing for the BBC's Urdu service as an 11-year-old to campaign against the Taliban's efforts to deny women an education.

Unable to return to Pakistan after her recovery, Ms Yousafzai moved to Britain, setting up the Malala Fund and supporting local education advocacy groups with a focus on Pakistan, Nigeria, Jordan, Syria and Kenya.

In 2013, she won the European Parliament's prestigious Sakharov human rights prize.

"Despite her youth, Malala Yousafzai has already fought for several years for the right of girls to education, and has shown by example that children and young people, too, can contribute to improving their own situations," a statement issued by the Nobel Committee said.

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

Obama hails Malala's 'passion and determination'

US president Barack Obama hailed Ms Yousafzai's "passion and determination".

"At just 17 years old, Malala Yousafzai has inspired people around the world with her efforts to ensure all girls can get an education," Mr Obama said in a statement.

"When the Taliban tried to silence her, Malala answered their brutality with strength and resolve," he said, adding that he and his wife Michelle were "awe-struck by her courage" after a meeting in the Oval Office last year.

Mr Obama said the honour bestowed upon Ms Yousafzai and Mr Satyarthi "reminds us of the urgency of their work to protect the rights and freedoms of all our young people".

"The true measure of Kailash's efforts is not a single prize he has been awarded, but the tens of thousands of people who today live with freedom and dignity thanks to his efforts," Mr Obama said.

The US leader noted that the two laureates come from different countries, religions and generations but "share an unyielding commitment to justice and an unshakeable belief in the basic dignity of every girl and boy".

Malala the 'pride of Pakistan'

Pakistan's prime minister, Nawaz Sharif, said Ms Yousafzai is the "pride of Pakistan".

"Her achievement is unparalleled and unequalled. Girls and boys of the world should take the lead from her struggle and commitment."

Mr Sharif was joined in his tribute by residents of her native Swat Valley, the north-western area that was ruled by Taliban militants from 2007 to 2009 who violently opposed girls education.

Ayesha Khalid, who was at school with Malala, said "It's not Malala alone winning this award, the girls of Pakistan have won it ... [she] is the light of our eyes and the voice of our heart.

"She has proved that you can't put a halt to education by blowing up schools."

Shama Akbar, a 15-year-old student in the region's main city of Mingora, added "The prize proves that the Pakistani is not a nation of terrorists but against the terrorists. It also proves that Pakistanis love education."

Cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan, whose party governs the province, posted on Twitter "Want to congratulate Malala on Nobel Peace Prize. Proud as Pakistani for her Nobel prize, especially for [the] cause of education which must be our national priority."

Rights activists said they would hold an event outside the press club in Peshawar, the main city of northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, later on Friday to mark Malala's win.

Kailash Satyarthi's peaceful fight to save children from exploitation

Kailash Satyarthi has headed various forms of peaceful protests and demonstrations, focusing on the exploitation of children for financial gain.

"Showing great personal courage, Kailash Satyarthi, maintaining Gandhi's tradition, has headed various forms of protests and demonstrations, all peaceful, focusing on the grave exploitation of children for financial gain," the statement said.

"He has also contributed to the development of important international conventions on children's rights."

Mr Satyarthi has succeeded in freeing tens of thousands of child workers forced into bonded labour or slavery.

He has also promoted ethical employment practices among global companies and given those freed children new employment and educational options.

The prize, which is worth about $1.26 million, will be presented in Oslo on December 10, the anniversary of the death of Swedish industrialist Alfred Nobel, who founded the award in his 1895 will.

See some of the people in the running for this year's prize.

• ABC/Reuters/AFP*