Dear Debi,

A very heart-touching question!

Child slavery is a very inhuman act at heart (in and of itself), a blunder, so to speak, against our humanity. A Nobel Peace Prize on Child Labor Abolition alone will not suffice; a lot of social and economic work has to be done still.

"Child slavery is a crime against humanity. Humanity itself is at stake here. A lot of work still remains, but I will see the end of child labor in my lifetime,"

http://www.thestate.com/2014/10/10/3735797/malala-kailash-satyarthi-win-nobel.html

Dear Debi, 

I agree with @Krishnam cited sentence, that "child slavery is crime against humanity" and human development. It is indeed hard to imagine these 168 or 246 millions children who instead of proper education and development are forced to work and become slaves. I think that awarding with Peace Nobel Prize such personalities as Malala Yousafzai and Kailash Satyarthi in 2014 is the sign of our times. However, this act is not a guarantee of the positive changes of socio- economic conditions and cultural patterns, involving slave labor of children in particular countries.

I think that the abolition of slave child labor and obligatory education in schools world wide should become in the coming years a priority objective of national and global organizations, working comprehensively for human rights. 

Dear Debi,

A very heart-touching question!

Child slavery is a very inhuman act at heart (in and of itself), a blunder, so to speak, against our humanity. A Nobel Peace Prize on Child Labor Abolition alone will not suffice; a lot of social and economic work has to be done still.

Dear Debi,

Frankly speaking, education should be such that it should not be perceived as child slavery/labor by the children themselves! Education is OK, but not any education system!

I agree with you all--dear Krishnan, Beata, Marwan and Marcel. I think in the child labor abolition sphere, we are in a situation of "little done, vast yet to be done." For, the issue is tied to two things: poverty alleviation at the global level; and the determination and political will of the state at the global level to put children in school by using different kind of positive and not-so-positive interventions. I fully agree that child labor is a crime against humanity. Somehow, it is my premonition that states where more working children are present would undertake some action in 2014 (as a gesture towards the Nobel award) to this end--though it might me mostly symbolic, but there might be some efforts towards substantive action as well.

I agree with all of you!

"Children should be able to go to school - the statement of the Committee - and not to be exploited for money; (...) Is a prerequisite for the peaceful development of the world that the rights of children and young people are respected. "

The decision to award two people involved in the defense of children and their rights, in the interest of the smallest and most defenseless and world peace, could not have come at a more opportune time. In fact, new dangers are threatening the kids, unimaginable until a few years ago: the theory of gender, the revived eugenics, the wombs for rent, even attempts to legitimize pedophilia. If it is true that the respect of children's rights is a "prerequisite for the peaceful development of the world," the first and fundamental, the right to life also continues to be systematically denied in many parts of the world..

What do you think about abortion? May it be identified as the killing of unwanted children?

Exploitation of children in labor is another stigma on the face of this generally materialistic world in which the human & ethical values are placed aside & the villains of greed are rampant & astray. What is needed is action to curb & halt all this misdeed worldwide but the action comes through a well-planned mechanism by the influential states of this time. A war must be waged on those who manipulate innocent children & it is more apt for "Don Quixote" to wage such a war & not only sparking a war when the Don sniffs petroleum somewhere. 

Thanks Prof Debi, I have shared on FB that I am happy for Malala and Kailash.  Very inspiring for all of us.  Congratulations :)

Here is a related thread.  Dear Profs Debi, Marwan, Sribas, Barbara, let's raise more issues on justice, on abolishing or reducing poverty, on protecting infants and children, matters that need to be addressed, on RG.  Kailash and Malala deserve their share of the prize; let's join their fight for the rights of these children:  'Open our mouths, raise our voices'.

https://www.researchgate.net/post/Isnt_it_true_that_children_in_poor_countries_must_work_to_feed_themselves_and_their_families

Dear @Debi, the impact of 2014 Nobel Peace prize on Child labor abolition is enormous! My congratulations to those wonderful people committed to fighting for the rights of children, especially against children's labour and children's slavery!

Congrats to both of them for their life threatening efforts to improve the life of children.

Dear all, Barbara and Ljubomir, Agreeing with you, let us all hope that this Nobel makes the fight against child injustice a real, vigorous, and zealous one; and not just merely symbolic.  I do wish along with you that many state agencies would come forward with some novel ideas in this year itself that help towards mitigation of the children's labor and slavery. 

 The two photos uploaded by dear Miranda look appropriate to the discussion. Let us hope that Malala's fight against the obstacles to girl children's education becomes fiercer, and that she become successful in her vision. The zeal and enthusiasm that Kailash Satyarthy has been showing in his mission too would hopefully bear fruit in time to come

Malala, what a girl!!!

Children in Global South Countries (Third World) have to work, because there is no system solution to prevent this. I believe, that the worst what we can do is a ban on working for minors. In my opinion it will only force those children to gray zone and thus open illegal labor market - and those children have to work, they must. Many of those children earns money for whole family (some times even for infant brothers or sisters). This is very sad story but we cannot focus on populist acts, which will make much more harm than good. Only full system solution can help those children.

BTW Mr Kailash Satyarthi doing a great job, so I am really glad that he, with Mrs Malala Yousafzai have Nobel Peace Prize. Big congratulation for them both.

Undoubtedly the decision to give the Nobel Peace Prize 2014 to two fighters and defenders of children is an important step that will have a significant impact, from the moral point of view, in many countries and will generate public awareness of the exploitation of children in some countries. It is a first step in the right direction, but for the time being is just that. Now it is required that the different organizations, whether governmental or not dedicated to the protection of children in all countries in close cooperation with governments and the United Nations, adopt and implement specific measures not only to prohibit child labor, but to ensure the same education and proper training so that they can have a better future within their societies. These measures should consider unlawful the labor recruitment of children less than 18 years old and should ensure free access to the public health system for all children under age 18.

I am totally in support of Ljubomir Jacić's comment! I a m particularly happy that Malala received the recognition she deserves! Such young and such amazing talent and dedication! I am very happy this year with the Nobel Peace Prize winners! 

This nobel prize is promoting the discussion on this huge multi-facet problem and hopefully help reducing it. The children are  sacred otherwise nothing is!  In this age of global awereness no child whatever its ethnicity, its culture, its religion, its social status , its geographical location should be ignored.

Dear Costas,

Lotus flower rise from the muddy water ! Malala, you made it.

Dear all, Luis has said it so beautifully. We need to rise above nations and regions when we talk of child protection issues. They are the face of the future society; and investment in them will define sustainability. We sincerely hope the awareness caused by this Nobel is just the beginning of the tougher mission ahead that needs to be completed. Pahlaj, you too said so wonderfully about a determinant Malala. May God bless this child avatar in her mission!

Dear all, Angela is right. Every human being must feel proud of Malala--what a child! Gorge's point is so very right--any law that just prohibits something is not enough. The law should be such as to lay down a facilitative structure and scheme of things that help mitigate this shameful practice. His suggestion implies extension of the age of child from the present 15 years to 18 years. That is worth considering. 

These two issues - child labour and girl child education - are very important issues since long in the world. This nobel prize for noble cause will/may motivate people to launch mass movement to eradicate child labour and promote child education specifically girls education in India as well as in the world. This is a unique award conferred jointly to senior person and a child for the cause of restoration of life to children. This sentiment will help a great to combine all age group people for making it a mass movement. We should not depend on/wait for actions of Government and perfectly enforcement of various defunct Acts and Laws. Mass movement may help a lot!

Every child - either girl or boy - is created noble.

Child education and abolition of child labor are serious issues of this day, and should be seen as most priority areas for sustainable development.  

In some communities, parents enslaved children under the pretext of religion. This lack of understanding of the religion and the application is contrary to religious instruction.

For example, juvenile persecuted by everyone and this is immoral and unjust.

We need laws that protect children and to the application of the laws

In theory, it should have a good impact; in practical probably too little, unless the problem is dealt with at the roots.

One of the multipe ways that child labor abuse could be reduced would  be a world minimum wage and minimum norm of labor incluiding norms for children and a system of tracability of every product.  So anyone anywhere in the world could scan a product and trace every companies involve with it and could verify if all of them comply with this minimum wage and minimum norms.  In order to avoid false claim, volunteers throughout the world could actually cooperately check locally if these claims are real or not.

2014 Nobel peace prize on child labor abolition is certainly an encouragement to remove this inhuman practice from the human society. There could not be any excuse in defense of this social menace which leads to deprivation of child's rights. Unfortunately, this social evil is still existent in many parts of developing and under developed world. Awarding 2014 Nobel prize to two recipients, one from India and other from neighboring Pakistan, will go a long way to motivate many more people to work for social cause and humanity. This prize will certainly propagate the message of peace and love for humanity. 

Dear Francesca, in reply to your observation that child labor abolition should not be linked to the Nobel prize,  I agree that ideally it should not be so linked. But the powers-that-be in the whole world get charged when the  socio-political forces get ignited towards a certain cause. Such forces work better on certain happenings. Therefore, the recognition of child labor abolition issue by the Nobel committee, will perhaps arouse the anti-child labor sentiments on the part of the state as well as the civil society, which can work towards this cause.  

The nobel peace prize this year should certainly spark a renewed conviction in the urgency of education for girls as well as stronger measures against child labor. Both are inherently connected but the first is a determining factor for the second. Change, however, does not happen overnight and has to go through systemic overhauls that are difficult to break through the cycle of poverty, which is probably the biggest driving force leading children into the workplace. The defining factor is that of education, and its access and quality, especially in rural areas. Mandatory steps need to be taken to ensure that children, especially girls, don't drop out of school or are forced into wedlock before the legal age of 18, or preferably not before they are old enough to take their own decisions (which is well into the mid 20s). In fact decision-making without education at any age, is not expected to be sound because of a lack of the appreciation for informed knowledge. Women's education is the key to sustainable societies, and the first step toward stalling the evils of child labour. 

I consider it a Noble recognition & honour to Noble Persons for a very Noble Cause. Let this sensitize and inspire others in the world's society to stand straight against this horrendous practice.

Dear Debi

I don’t want to be pessimistic, but IMHO the Noble prize is not really going to make a difference to the actual child labor problem except to bring to the attention of the people for a few days. Afterwards everybody will forget that there is a problem. The problem can only be solved if the underlying economic interests are taken care of. Unfortunately in the current situation in the developing world it is almost impossible.

The fact that the state in India, Madhya Pradesh where Satyarthi lives did not even recognize him and not many people in India heard the name highlights the problem.

Hope and pray for the saner and thinking people to come to the rescue of the unfortunate children who have everything to lose in the current way of things.

The points raised by dear Nages are indeed very important. Often the initial enthusiasm dies down faster. Time will tell whether that happens in case of peace Nobel as well. Dear Monica thanks for the interesting points raised by you in your thread.

Unless we try to really understand the social circumstances leading to these problems and to think about  solutions and some actions are taken nothing will change.  Most peoples when they are being exposed to such cruel realities would be willing to so something as long that is within their reach to do so.  Even politicians would be willing to do something if they could see practical ways to do some changes.  The problem is that we are accepting these situations unwillingly like we accept unwillingly the earthquake, the climate changes, the deseases.  We feel helpless and so unwillingly accept it and so forget about it.  People who have the knowledge  should imagine  multiple pragmatic micro solutions.   The real power is the will equiped with information.  We should not accept the unwilling acceptation attitude and do like Mallal and Kailash.

The Nobel committee said Satyarthi was carrying on the tradition of another great Indian, Mahatma Gandhi, who remains the most notable omission in the 113-year history of the Nobel Peace Prize. “Showing great personal courage, Kailash Satyarthi, maintaining Gandhi’s tradition, has headed various forms of protests and demonstrations, all peaceful, focusing on the grave exploitation of children for financial gain,” the committee said.

http://koin.com/2014/10/10/malala-yousafzai-satyarthi-win-nobel-peace-prize/

Speaking about the popularity and influence of Malala, here is the info about the book that have been just promoted in Serbia : I am Malala! The impact will be raising as many readers all over the world will accept her values!

http://evro-giunti.com/ja-sam-malala.html

A Nobel price may certainly help to promote the position of children and especially woman in the society! We all wish that in the near future, there should not be the need for Malalas. 

Here is a part of her yesterday's speech delivered in Oslo.

"During a powerful speech at the Nobel peace prize ceremony in Oslo, she said: “Why is it that countries which we call strong are so powerful in creating wars but are so weak in bringing peace? Why is it that giving guns is so easy, but giving books is so hard?”

Raising her voice in the silent room, where she was given a rousing standing ovation at the beginning and end of her speech, she said: “We are living in the modern age and we believe that nothing is impossible. We have reached the moon 45 years ago and maybe we will soon land on Mars. Then, in this 21st century we must be able to give every child a quality education.”

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/dec/10/malala-yousafzia-nobel-peace-prize-attack

'Indescribable courage'

In his speech, Mr Satyarthi said he was "representing the sound of silence" and the "millions of those children who are left behind". He said he had kept an empty chair at the ceremony as a reminder of the children without a voice. "There is no greater violence than to deny the dreams of our children," he said. "I refuse to accept that the shackles of slavery can ever be stronger than the quest for freedom," he added, to applause. Nobel committee chairman Thorbjorn Jagland stressed the importance of education, saying: "The road to democracy and freedom is paved with knowledge."   Mr Jagland praised Mr Satyarthi's work campaigning against child labour, often at great risk to himself.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-30411049

Profs Ljubomir, Umachandran, and all, I think we must have a kind of globalization that does not cause children in developing countries to need to work.  A sustainable form of globalization indeed!  Here are related threads. 

From 2nd link, 'We need to restore education to its function of nurturing citizenship and genuine personal fulfillment – and move away from the present function of training people for employment by the elite.'

https://www.researchgate.net/post/Isnt_it_true_that_children_in_poor_countries_must_work_to_feed_themselves_and_their_families

https://www.researchgate.net/post/Guptara_2010_outlined_seven_steps_to_creating_the_right_kind_of_globalization_In_your_opinion_can_we_implement_these

Nobel Prize 2014 for Peace awarded to Pakistan’s Malala Yousafzai and India’s Kailash Satyarthi for the noble causes that Satyarthi and Malala stand for are indeed most important and admirable. The prize awarded jointly to both the noble personalities for their struggle against the suppression of children and for the right of all children and female to education. Child rights activist Satyarthi has been a long-time crusader against child slavery and his organization, the Bachpan Bachao Andolan (Save the Child Movement) has been credited with saving thousands of children from forced labour and abuses. Malala, the youngest recipient of the prize is the well-known promoter and symbol of female education in Pakistan who was shot by the Taliban in 2012 for campaigning for the right of girls to attend school. This award is recognition to all activists fighting against the exploitation of children and slavery - as said by Mr Satyarthi. The issues for which the two winners have struggled are now recognized globally. Let this prestigious recognition transmit a strong signal - very loud and clear- to all the nations of the world to unite and act together for a powerful and effective joint struggle for education and against extremism. I wish both the Nobel winners the best of luck in furthering their causes.

Listening to Malala speak five minutes and you know she is genuine and sincere and pure.  She has a wisdom and I just wish that this wisdom of the child will not be crushed by the time she become an adult because she could become a powerfull voice on this planet.

Naturally, as she is re-born from death. Not many have made a return from death. Her pain and anguish is genuine.  All war prone and affected countries have many Malala's unable express themselves.