Statement on the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize
by US Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez

WASHINGTON — U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez issued the following statement today on the awarding of the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize:

"I want to congratulate two courageous human rights champions, Kailash Satyarthi and Malala Yousafzai, for receiving the Nobel Peace Prize. Kailash Satyarthi's tireless campaign to end forced child labor and Malala Yousafzai's fearless global advocacy for the right of boys and girls to an education are helping to transform the global landscape of children's rights.

"The U.S. Department of Labor is committed to the goal of eradicating exploitative child labor by addressing its underlying causes. Through our programs, we have helped parents find and retain good jobs and children gain access to education, so that families can break out of the cycle of poverty that contributes to child labor. Earlier this week, we released the Department's 2013 Findings on the Worst Forms of Child Labor, a report that gives voice to voiceless children and serves as a call to action and an instrument for change. In the spirit of Kailash and Malala, we must assume responsibility, as a global community, for bringing about lasting change that promises a better future for children around the world."