Nobel Prize Important for Millions of Children Who Have Been Denied their Childhood, Says Kailash Satyarthi

Oslo, Norway: India's Kailash Satyarthi and Pakistan's Malala Yousafzai today affirmed that the Nobel peace prize gives them a tremendous opportunity in their fight and struggle for child rights.

"Even if one single child is in danger then the entire world is in danger," Mr Satyarthi said in Oslo at a joint press conference with Malala on the eve of the award ceremony.

Mr Satyarthi, 60, and Malala, 17, will share the $ 1.1 million Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo tomorrow.

"This prize is very important for millions and millions of children who have been denied their childhood...As I am talking to you there are millions of children who are denied this freedom, we need to work for them," he said.

"There are children who are sold like animals...children who are forced into prostitution.. The children who are made hostages. The children who are made child soldiers," he said, adding that this Nobel peace prize gives tremendous opportunity in the fight and struggle for child rights.

Describing Malala as his daughter, he said she is the bravest child one can think of.

Malala, who survived a near-fatal Taliban attack two years ago with determination advocating education for girls, said she is proud to be a Muslim.

"We strongly believe in Islam. Islam is a religion of peace, but unfortunately there are people who don't know about this religion," she said, referring to Taliban militants.

Mr Satyarthi gave up his job as an electrical engineer to run NGO Bachpan Bachao Aandolan (Save Childhood Movement) in India for rescuing children from forced labour and trafficking.

"We have to work towards peace for children and children for peace... We have to create such a world," he said.