Kailash Satyarthi

As the anti-slavery community, we must together ensure that this attention is transferred into concrete action and results.

I am really honoured, but if the prize had gone to Mahatma Gandhi before me, I would have been more honoured.

There is a triangular relationship between poverty, child labour and illiteracy who have a cause and consequence relationship. We will have to break this vicious circle.

Each time I free a child, I feel it is something closer to God.

I have been very strongly advocating that poverty must not be used as an excuse to continue child labour. It perpetuates poverty. If children are deprived of education, they remain poor.

I am positive that I would see the end of child labour around the world in my lifetime, as the poorest of the poor have realised that education is a tool that can empower them.

I never go to temples, but when I see a child, I see God in them.

India may be a land of over a 100 problems, but it is also a place for a billion solutions.

For me, peace is a fundamental human right of every child; it is inevitable and divine.

The fight against child slavery is the fight against traditional mindset, policy deficit, and lack of accountability and urgency for children across the globe.

Denial of childhood and denial of freedom are the biggest sins which humankind has been committing and perpetuating for ages.

I am thankful to the Nobel committee for recognising the plight of millions of children who are suffering in this modern age.

Today, I see thousands of Mahatma Gandhis, Martin Luther Kings, and Nelson Mandelas marching forward and calling on us. The boys and girls have joined. I have joined in. We ask you to join, too.

I call for a march from exploitation to education, from poverty to shared prosperity, a march from slavery to liberty, and a march from violence to peace.

From my own experience, I want to say that you should follow your heart, and the mind will follow you. Believe in yourself, and you will create miracles.

We still have a soft approach on the perpetrators of crimes like worst forms of child labour.

More than 30 years ago, when I had embarked upon the fight against child labour, it was not even considered an issue worth any discussion. It was accepted as a way of life in India, much like it was in other countries. Today, no country or business or society can throw this issue away.

We as the governments, workers, employers and civil society must declare a war on child labour. This war cannot be won without strong, committed, coherent, and well-resourced worldwide movement. Equally needed is a genuine and active coordination between intergovernmental agencies at the highest level.

World's children cannot wait any longer. While international community debates and issues recommendations, statements and fine speeches, world's children - marginalised, socially excluded, poor and vulnerable - continue to suffer.

Today it is time for every child to have a right to life, right to freedom, right to health, right to education, safety, the right to dignity, right to equality, and right to peace.

Today, in every wave of every ocean, I see our children playing and dancing. Today, in every plant, tree, and mountain, I see our children growing in freedom.

Economic growth and human development need to go hand in hand. Human values need to be advocated vigorously.

Childhood means simplicity. Look at the world with the child's eye - it is very beautiful.

Child labor perpetuates poverty, unemployment, illiteracy, population growth, and other social problems.

The biggest challenge or biggest crisis knocking on the doors of humankind is fear and intolerance.