17 year old Malala Yousafzai has won the Nobel Peace Prize.  She is by far the youngest person to win the prestigous prize.

Malala shares the award with Kailash Satyarthi for his struggle against the supression of children and young people.

An indian native Kailash has headed a number of demonstrations focusing on the exploitation of children for financial gain.

While Malala has spent several years fighting for the right of girls to education.

Making the annopuncement the Norwegian Nobel Committee said " In the poor countries of the world, 60% of the present population is under 25 years of age. It is a prerequisite for peaceful global development that the rights of children and young people be respected. In conflict-ridden areas in particular, the violation of children leads to the continuation of violence from generation to generation.

The Nobel Committee also said it is 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. "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."

The struggle against suppression and for the rights of children and adolescents contributes to the realization of the "fraternity between nations" that Alfred Nobel mentions in his will as one of the criteria for the Nobel Peace Prize.

 Orla O'Connor from the National Women's Council of Ireland says she's thrilled;