The right to a childhood and an education

What a wonderful thing it is that Malala Yousafzay and Kailash Satyarthi have won the Nobel Peace Prize this year. The Nobel committee described both laureates as “champions of peace”. They received this honour for their struggle against the suppression of children and young people and for the right of all children to education.

Malala Yousafzay said she was there to stand up for the rights of forgotten and frightened children, and raise their voice rather than pity them. Despite her youth, Malala 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. This she has done under the most dangerous circumstances.