Paris, Oct 10 (IANS): Unesco Director-General Irina Bokova Friday congratulated India's Kailash Satyarthi and Pakistan's Malala Yousafzai for winning the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize and praised their efforts to defend children's education and in promoting peace.

"The award of the Peace Prize to these two ardent defenders of education sends out a resounding message to the world on the importance of education for building peaceful and sustainable societies," Bokova said in statement, adding that "Unesco works closely with both Nobel laureates".

According to the Paris-based organisation, Kailash Satyarthi has worked with passion and courage to fulfill every child's right to education and Malala "stands with us" in the struggle for universal education, especially for girls, Xinhua reported.

India's Satyarthi and the 17-year-old Pakistani schoolgirl shared this year's Nobel Peace Prize for their "struggle for education and against extremism".