GENEVA (10 October 2014) – A group of United Nations human rights experts* today applauded the Nobel Peace Prize awarded to Malala Yousafzai and Kailash Satyarthi for their struggle against suppression of young people and children’s right to education.
“Malala’s tireless work to support the right of girls to a quality education, in the face of at times violent opposition from those who misuse culture, tradition or religion to deny human rights, is truly one of the highest contributions to bring peace to the world,” they said.
“Malala has become a symbol of the empowerment of girls and has made a key contribution to improve the situation of children,” the human rights experts added.
“Kailash Satyarthi has been a leader in combatting the commercial exploitation of children, the worst forms of child labour, and the scourge of street children. He has rescued many child labourers and helped them in their rehabilitation efforts,” they noted.
“He has also put lots of effort towards realizing the rights of children through the adoption of international child rights instruments and their implementation at the national level,” the group of experts said.
“We encourage all governments to lend their cooperation and support to these and all other campaigners for the right of children to education and to be free from exploitation, to ensure that these rights are fully realized within their countries,” the human rights experts concluded.
(*) The experts:
Urmila Bhoola, Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery, including its causes and consequences
Maud de Boer-Buquicchio, Special Rapporteur on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography
Maria Grazia Giammarinaro, Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially in women and children
