Malala Yousafzai. (Associated Press)
US President Barack Obama on Friday hailed the "passion and determination" of teen Nobel peace laureate Malala Yousafzai, who shared the prize with Indian anti-child labour activist Kailash Satyarthi.
"At just 17 years old, Malala Yousafzai has inspired people around the world" with her efforts to ensure all girls can get an education, 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 was "awe-struck by her courage" after a meeting in the Oval Office last year.
Obama said the honour bestowed upon Malala - the youngest Nobel laureate ever - and 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," 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."
"Even as we celebrate their achievements, we must recommit ourselves to the world that they seek -- one in which our daughters have the right and opportunity to get an education; and in which all children are treated equally," he said.