to be a buckeye. i wish you would come to ohio. [laughter] i really do appreciate the way you have treated our veterans of the way you treated this committee with respect and really worked with oocytes accompt a common ground. thank you for allowing me to be here. i have a couple of questions for mr. walters and then i want to do one question with mr. hallinan. mr. walters, i appreciate your new october 1st draft of regulation that would deal with next of kin. g6ajx2#÷ homeless4obç veterans and folks identified because they had servetugyw in a conflict much further bacc1$e)s7l in our hi

headstones. so i appreciate the updated version. t"!÷gij onlyl! a fewm÷tñ questi that i havep about it because "g that arelcyrm1bc historians and other$@lu÷ archi that are interested in helping language thateks$wqb)ú they don t and i j]?gd toúkyk(%up&k the first part involves where you say in the individual who involves such lawful duty basically can provide information on these headstones. a lot a lot of the interested parties are having trouble understanding the language of such lawful duty means. i assume it means the duty to provide a headstone. is there anyway you can clarify that in this hearing? >> to make sure that i get it right, i would prefer to answer that for the record.

>> any that might be the result. the second is your proposed rule creates a date on the calendar. the the date we entered world war i, but as you no our archival records and procedures actually say basically anything 62 years back and further. i really think it we will make much more sense to have those two things be the same and use the archival records , 62 years back instead of the dropdead date of april 61917. just consistency makes a lot of sense. i would ask you to take a look at whether you consider that changes well. >> we received 383 comments.

we are going through them right now. i'm sure that's one of them. in general what i will say is that our primary motivation in establishing the april 1917 date was to really honor family members wishes to the extent possible. if we establish the 62 year timeline that would be in place we are basically establishing a date of 195252 as the launch. we felt the family members would be alive for veterans who served prior to 1952. so because of that we thought it would just be best to move the date back to a standard date of our interest into world war i.

socioeconomically advantaged, more broken families if you can have consistency makes sense. i i don't think it's the worst thing in the world. consistency, one of the rules we need to live by is if we can create things that are consistent it makes it easier for everybody. everybody. take a look. if you can consider community,, the community of historians every state has a state historic preservation officer, and if you can include some language about that, state governor appointed positions, if you could, you could, you know, allow those folks to be

included in this by name and by spelling them out it would be helpful. there is one in every state. there is, i believe, one for federally recognized indian tribes. so so they are everywhere, and it is a position that could and should be recognized in this regulation. i ask you to take a look at it. >> we would be happy to do that. >> thank you so much. much. i just wanted to thank you. i have worked on it for almost four four years here in congress. i had a bill dealing with it. you guys took it and did it by regulation, and i appreciate what you are

doing to implement that. you mentioned a little bit earlier, and i want to thank you because it sets forward a place so that what happened a few years ago where some unidentified remains of servicemen and women ended up in a landfill , this will make sure that never happens again. i appreciate the effort and just wanted to say thank you. >> congressman, congressman, on behalf of my staff you are most welcome. the reason the reason i have a job is to serve our nation's heroes. it was a sensitive subject. we understood your concern. we were out front. i am happy am happy to update the committee. march of 2015. we anticipate our contract being awarded in april of 2015. so october so october or november of 2015 i anticipate. >> i appreciate that. even our unidentified unidentified soldiers sailors, airmen, marines deserve a a place of honor, and i appreciate that. last, i would like to thank

the senator for employing one of my constituents. it is good to see john here, but i appreciate appreciate you and what you do for our veterans and thank you for serving our veterans that happened to be buried around the globe. globe. i happens to visit one of your places in france this year. it was very well kept up. i appreciate that you take your mission seriously and honor our heroes. >> thank you. i yield back the balance and want to thank the chairman and wishing great luck. we will miss you as a blocker. >> thanks. i have one more question. i will open it up to the other members also.

only because the first meeting that i had with the secretary mcdonnell he sat down and said something that really got the wheels turning. i know arlington has a strategic plan. i want want to address the strategic plan moving forward prepared for the volume that we are going to have and what studies plans do you have. >> thank you, mr. chairman. as far as predicting the future gravesite need for internment rates we use the

model that we received from another office within the va that model provides us with better level data at the county level using that data which is based on the 2010 census, using that data we then look at historical patterns down to the individual cemetery level and make projections and assumptions 20 of 30 years of the future. i will say that we have been historically extremely successful. in in most years where we have a variance of about 1% from our projected internment rates which inform the need for additional gravesites and construction projects. so any cohort in the future

we will be reflected in these models. that would be translated into our future projections and construction planning models. as a result of our planning models we've never had an androgen and burial service. >> i would just ask, recently hit the philippines and impact on our cemetery and second, what y'all are doing with normandy and the french government to have that site declared an

international heritage site. >> thank you very much. the last question i don't no the answer to, and i will call call upon my colleagues who might no an answer to it the first question,, typhoons at the philippines and time to time. sometimes the trees are blown down, gravesites are impacted. so we are subject to the weather, like everyone else. else. however, we have a great crew out there,, a great leader, and they are always johnny on the spot in responding and setting things right. >> i would just be curious to know about the heritage site. >> the heritage site, i will have to ask my colleague. does colleague. does he know anything about the heritage site?

>> forgive my voice. i voice. i have got a cold. we are in contact. the overseas operations office has reviewed paperwork, and we are considering whether we want to endorse that. our concern is that if it is declared a world heritage site there is nothing in that it would prevent us. the nature of the events that happen there clearly fall under the criteria and deserve to be so recognized.

>> a constituent of mine and her husband are both eligible for burial at arlington. the rules do not allow them to preserve the plot. they will be buried one on top of the other and share headstone. is that a little and place because of space limitations not allowed to reserve a plot next to your spouse because i think i think it is 2015 that we are running out of room. >> congressman, to answer your question, the reservations, 1962 by law. there are no legal reservations. at our national cemeteries

for former sen. senator aware of, but that would be a driver, to bury people side-by-side, quickly use of the remaining capacity. that was part of the process 100 percent accurate. eligible on taking that as a given, but it would be together in the same gravesite. when he or she would go on top. >> is there a plan in place to add additional grounds post 2050? >> i don't want to say no, congressman. i believe that when we approach that era their may be some opportunities, but it is difficult. we have taken millennium

project, space from fort myer, the possibility of looking again, but when one looks for available space outside of the next process, the southern expansion, you have to look at what is going to be gained, not just maximizing burial space, the caissons and military units. it has a small footprint already. any future expansion will come by great financial cost. trying to get out there. i'm sure, any interest that we show beyond our current footprint and where we we will go we will be a sensitive issue. but we but we are looking. we do project beyond what comes after. >> and lastly, mr. walters

them a thank you for your commitment to work with me. i appreciate that. while i while i feel strongly about the position that we hold related to the cemetery i i do, again, want to commend you and your team for the way in which you take care of it. the families at this.who desperately want something more, getting. >> we look forward to working with you. >> thank you. with that, on behalf of the subcommittee, thank you for your testimony. i i wish you all success in 2015. you are no space -- excused. [inaudible conversations]

[inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations]

>> at this time we welcome our second panel, the dir. of outreach and education for the tragedy assistance program, national legislative director. we appreciate your attendance. your complete and written statements will be entered into the record. you are now recognized for five minutes for your testimony. >> the tragedy assistance program for survivors. a nonprofit organization that provides comforting care to anyone grieving the death of someone who died while serving in our armed forces regardless of where they died or how they died. we appreciate the subcommittee's continuing interest in ensuring our nation's veterans and

service members have final resting places that are honorable and well-maintained. these issues touch my family. my brother was killed in action and was killed -- buried in arlington national cemetery. we we hope you we will review our submitted testimony which includes opinions on legislative initiatives related to national cemeteries. the scandal also touched the national cemetery administration last year. unfortunately, the previous undersecretary retired after an oig report revealed he engaged in prohibited practices and preferential treatment. newly to his or now in place and we appreciate the opportunities we have had to

meet with sec. mcdonald and undersecretary gibson. we know that they have a commitment to assisting survivors, and it is our hope that new leaders will move forward in a positive and honorable way. we are pleased to report the number of pending burial allowance claims has declined significantly with 17,818 on last week's report while these benefits do not route through the national cemetery administration delay in their delivery hurts families are forcing him to delay funding of states and does impact there view. at arlington national cemetery we are in a different place today than we were a year ago when surviving families were upset about the removal of mementos from section 60 where hundreds of those who paid the ultimate sacrifice are buried, including my brother. we we met with families and have extended a compromise permitting them to leave handcrafted objects and small, laminated photos a gravesites. initially this was a pilot.

the compromise was extended into the growing season and is still currently in place. the families of works to educate each other about the rules, and the majority follow them. a few still do not follow the policies, but the appearance of the section is more uniform and improved. one town hall meeting was elderly are this year with families, and we are hopeful that lines of communication remain open between the families. some families were turned away due to logistics issues , we are working with the in advance of these major events so no one is turned away. we would like to see greater survivor involvement in an advisory capacity. capacity. no survivor has served on

the advisory committee since janet mangan's death in april 2015. while the members of the community all have exemplary military or veteran service credentials and i should add the chair of that community testified on the previous panel, we believe their deliberations would benefit from the insight of a survivors perspective. >> chairman, ranking member, distinguished members of the subcommittee, i thank you for the opportunity to assist you in the important job of overseeing our national cemetery. previously my previously my testimony before this committee has been somewhat limited to repetition of facts and statistics to my hower today's testimony we will be much more heartfelt

i love history, am a trained trained historic preservationist, love my country and grew up visiting and documenting cemeteries in the new england area. today's topic is important to me both personally and professionally. it is safe to say that everybody in this room knows and appreciates the sacred responsibility entrusted to the national cemetery administration to honor the memory of america's military men and women. i would like to set the stage briefly to convey the true importance of her national cemeteries, not only to our nation's veterans but to all american citizens. historically cemeteries, especially military cemeteries were much more than established sites of burial with regimented internal layouts conducive

to both the expression of personal grief and accepted societal funerary rituals. few individuals are are aware, i believe, of some of the equally important social and political aspects of cemeteries, including promoting and preserving the individuality and status of the deceased, the setting aside of landscaped spaces in or near communities delineated by defined boundaries, the organized commemoration of significant events and/or persons serving as places of beauty and tranquility where friends and family can gather. as gather. as expressions of national identity and pride, especially in the case of military cemeteries and as sites of the pilgrimage and permanence. i am hopeful that this brief

introduction has sparked a greater appreciation of historic national value of the many unique and the replaceable cemeteries held in trust. the monuments, gravestones, architecture, landscape, and related landscape, and related memorial tributes within each cemetery are richly steeped in history and represent the very foundations of these united states. how can we do any less than our absolute best to develop and maintain these truly american shrines? after having spent several weeks this summer visiting national cemeteries -- their were seven i was able to get to, my impression of ncaa cemeteries and its employees is higher than ever.

having had the rare opportunity for end of the visit swear i was able to observe every facet of cemetery operations,, i was both mood and impressed with the care and professionalism at every level of the organization. none of the cemeteries i visited displayed any blatant shortcomings that would be obvious to the casual observer. this level of attention to detail, dedication, and commitment to providing the highest quality of service to veterans and their families would not be possible without positive role models and strong throughout the nca system. i certainly a knowledge that perfection does not exist in this world and that i have not yet had the opportunity to visit every cemetery

under the stewardship of the nca, but given the resources both human and financial time must equally at knowledge that nca continually strives to meet its most important obligation, providing dignified resting places for our nation's veterans and their eligible family members. this concludes my testimony, and i will be happy to answer your questions. >> thank you very much. we will begin our round of questions. inform surviving families about the enhanced security procedures resulting in access constraints during major holidays and times when many families choose to visit the following love ones. how successful has the outreach been as your testimony noted several areas where they have volunteered to assist in

spreading word, and how do you think outreach could be more effective while also compassionate? >> well, for us it is about reaching out to our families and distributing information we have made improvements in our survivor database so we can better track our families. one of the challenges is many of the families who bury their loved ones do not live in the washington area. unlike people who reside here, they are not familiar with the security precautions that occur when the president or vice president travel to an event sometimes those families get caught on the bridge or in serious traffic issues and are not familiar with the security lockdown procedures our role our role has been to compile the information and distributed. i would say that we still have some improvements we are trying to make but are working hard at that end of also met with the cemetery

administration over the summer to make additional improvements because of concerns over memorial day. >> and very similar to information, i i wanted to thank's for participating in the discussion. section 60 in particular. you said in your testimony that it is an agreement, and it is not a formal -- do you have any suggestions on how to move forward and ease that anxiety? >> for all of us it has been about keeping the lines of communication open. the situation a year ago we had a group of very upset families. for our families to really talk with the administration and see them as people, for the administration to meet them as people and look them in the eye, that went a long way. and so i think it became

about how to humanize the conversation and then how to figure out what work for everyone recognizing that the cemetery has to be at a certain standard and also recognizing that grieving is different today. for some people leaving an object or photograph is extremely important. how we can work out something that will work for everyone. the families of done a lot to help educate each other and have the lines of communication open. that open. that has been key. >> thank you. you are talking about the consistency you have seen across your visits. is there anything that stood out to you when you visited the sites that was different back the object is obviously to be uniform. is there any specific thing that stood out?

>> i am going to say not really. the seven sites that i visited -- and they were not just brief run in and out. i usually spend a minimum of two days or more. i just did not -- i mean, i mean, i was not going through their records. this was more observing. for instance at jefferson barracks i spent one day just at their training center. i spent another day at the scheduling office so that i could see the process. then i spent the day at the cemetery itself, but every site that i went to i was truly surprised, i think, by the care of the chain of

custody. i had no idea what the process was like until i went to jefferson barracks where i started. the redundancy at every.to ensure that, you know, it was the right veteran and that the site where they were going to be interred was the right site. i mean,, there is -- they use maps. they draw. but just the detail so that their are no errors is, perhaps, one of the things that really struck me. that and as that and as i was riding around with different employees during my visits i i would constantly see, they

would stop the vehicle if they saw somebody walking around who looks like they needed help or if they saw a piece of trash in the road or in the cemetery itself. they just got out, took care of it. it. it was really very reassuring to see that level of care at every step of the way. >> thank you. good to hear. with that, i yield to the ranking member. >> thank you for all the good work you do with families during this most difficult time. i would ask, if you have the same experience dealing with people and talking the to families that we heard reported in the surveys that the nca does, they say their surveys show that 95% of people are satisfied. the best marks of any government agency. is that compatible with what you here? >> we hear from families that they are often very

satisfied with the burial process. unfortunately, we do work with people who are dramatically bereaved. many of these people are struggling with short-term memory loss issues or other issues going on. often in a state of shock, people, people who died young who were not expected to die too often died in very violent ways. and so there family is often in a great degree of shock. the burial is often very quickly after the death. there is not a weight typically. and so the family is sometimes, the photographs or other things from the surface to recall it very well. that is unfortunate, but they always will say that they feel their loved one was honored and that they feel that a placement at

arlington or a national cemetery honors their loved one service and sacrifice. >> ever talked to families who feel like they don't live close enough to a national cemetery so they resort to some other kind of more private funeral? >> there are families sometimes you have to make difficult decisions because this was someone who was not expected to die. it was no family plan in place like there might be for an older veteran like my father-in-law who knew for several decades he wanted to be buried there. and so families sometimes do not always recognize the travel distances that they may be assuming or may not realize they want to visit as often as they do. that can be challenging to make a long-distance trip to go and visit a location. we

don't fear often from families about that, but it certainly is something that is discussed. >> when you visited those seven cemeteries, did cemeteries, did you visit any state cemeteries? >> i have i have not yet had the opportunity to visit the state cemetery. >> to you think some of your veterans would like to see more cemeteries in the west? not just the state cemetery or some convenient facility? >> well, i personally just from my knowledge, not knowledge, not personal experience, but from research, if you we will, i don't really believe that being buried in a state cemetery, state veterans cemetery is any less honorable. i just don't see it as a negative. a negative. if there is no national cemetery or if that national cemetery has no more

available space then i don't i don't see why as long as the state cemetery is being maintained to the shrine standard that should be an issue. however, i did have a a member asked -- tell me the other day about a problem in alaska having to do with access. access. apparently there are two national cemeteries in alaska. the other apparently is on an active military installation. and installation. and the issue that he brought up was the fact that it is difficult. not difficult. not everyone has access, but if there is any sort of security issues going on the base than the base is closed and you can't access the cemetery. but as far as state

cemeteries go, i have not been to one. it is on my list. i will continue visiting. >> i just worry about policy varying from state to state. they might be able to get married together in a state that recognizes it. so i think while state cemeteries, the one in nevada, there are still differences that we need to address. i think the chairman. >> thank you, mr. chairman. thank. thank you for your testimony i enjoy hearings like these. but but other than your testimony i did not know. i appreciate you bringing your perspective. likewise, we appreciate all of the work and time that you took to go to these

different cemeteries, including the one at fort bliss in el paso, texas. for the record they are here as well. i appreciate your remarks and your testimony about the national cemetery. you describe it as serene and beautiful. a little bit of a surprise. the discontent. very beautiful place. again, so clean and well-maintained. some small areas, landscaping. it is excellently maintained

i think that the disconnect might come when we talk to the families, the survivors who can also appreciate everything that you describe in your assessment. but then kneeling at the grave site for being close to the headstone is a lesser experience for them. this was their experience as they related to me because of that environment and not having that expectation because it was there before and in the vast majority of other cemeteries and almost every other single national cemetery. he also said something i think was so important.

you visited with vs so prior to visiting the cemetery. they were not as obsessed with the best that it says they were with the process unfold like they have been disconnected from the process used to choose the zero skipping. talk about the exchange where we agreed to try to work together and find a way to make an improvement. maybe it is something better. talk a little bit about a process you might recommend that we could use working with survivors, veterans, bso's in's in the community and the nca. not to put you on the spot. since spot. since you had that great conversation i thought you might have some thoughts on it. >> i have not done a study of zero skipping. i am i am not sure what other types of low maintenance or water wise options there might be. be. i would doubt that what is currently at fort bliss is

the only avenue available. i have seen pictures back when it was turfed. in the picture i can see a lot of brown and bare patches. >> it does not look good, does it? >> i cannot imagine that would be any better. i don't no if i said this in my written testimony or not. this is my first experience being in a desert, but when you stand in the cemetery and you look at the environment all around, it is perfectly suited the way that it does. i did ask -- i went to a local vfw post while i was there to talk to veterans and see what they thought about it. you mentioned a couple of

things. i asked if it was difficult to walk on. somebody was saying an elderly person or somebody with some disability, do they have difficulty with a wheelchair on the surface or walking on the surface. so that possibility came up. i did not try either. it was 120° that day. i did not try kneeling. kneeling. but there were people visiting the cemetery, and i did notice at least two individuals have brought almost a small prayer rug, something to put on the ground to kneel on, which i thought was a pretty good option.

one other thing i will mention, i recently came back from a visit to a a military, national military cemetery in israel, and they did not have any grass. >> i saw your picture. it looks like there is grass on the actual grace. surrounded by stones and there is material in between. is that grass? >> the ground is mainly flat stone. and then each individual grave is sort of built up. there is a wall, a surround, if you we will. on top of that there is grass to the other excuse me, there is soil. it is not grass. there are plants there and there were a variety of different things. because of that i wonder if family members may be tried to their loved ones site,

but it was not grass. any place that did not have flagstones was bare dirt. >> i appreciate you bringing that to our attention. it provides yet another option. it is not a choice between bad turf and grass and the crushed rock, but as you saw , it is full of life and there are forms of grass and plant life. there is some middle ground in looking at what others have done including israel. thank you for doing the work and providing some perspective on this. >> my pleasure. >> thank you. anything further? >> no. >> on behalf of the subcommittee how would like to thank you for your work to honor our veterans and care for their families and loved ones. you are now excused.

i want i want to thank everyone for being here today. the status reports, well presented. appreciate. appreciate the work that went into the preparation. the the subcommittee will continue to engage in these issues. the final resting place for our veterans. once again, i think the witnesses for being here and ask unanimous consent that all members of five legislative days to revise and extend the more remarks. hearing no objection, so ordered. i thank the members for their attendance. this hearing is adjourned. [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations]

[inaudible conversations] >> pres. barack obama announcing plans today to normalize diplomatic relations with cuba and ease economic restrictions coming as cuba released usaid subcontractor allen gross after holding him in prison for five years. you can watch the president's announcement along with congressional reaction and the statement beginning tonight at 8:00 o'clock eastern. >> the tenth anniversary of our sunday primetime program featuring an encore presentation of one q&a from each year.

from 2,005 guinness fienberg , from 2006 the six the importance of the african american experience, from 2,007 robert novak, from 2,008 the value of higher education,, and from 2,009 conservative commentator. a decade of compelling conversations. december 22 through the 26th at seven pm eastern. >> eastern. >> this year's nobel peace prize was awarded. 17-year-old pakistani activist for the struggles against the suppression of young people and for the right of all children to education. the ceremony includes musical performances and speeches by both laureates. this is two hours.

>> welcomes guests to the annual nobel peace prize ceremony. december 10 is the day on which bell died in the international human rights day. december 10 is quite special. this this year focuses on the rights of the young people. they have already met several thousand children outside city hall this morning. children and gun people are important in the celebration of this year's nobel peace prize.

every year they nobel peace prize ceremony has taken place in the oslo city hall. today, as always, the main the main hall is festive and ready to welcome international and national guests. the two nobel laureates will receive their prizes for their fight and the right to education. the youngest recipient of the peace prize ever. ever. already made a strong impression all around the world in her fight for the right to education. in october of 2012 she was shot and killed by the taliban.

a children's rights activist who has won many prizes. in 1987 founded an organization against child slavery. this organization has chapters in pakistan, bangladesh, sri lanka, lanka, and several thousand child workers have been subdued. the oslo city hall makes a beautiful setting for the ceremony. the flowers decorating the hall today are carnations, orchids,, and many others. [inaudible conversations] every year and original artist is given the honor of

assigning the nobel diploma which accompanies the price. the artist this year is here among the invited guests today naturally. [inaudible conversations] and now outside in the courtyard the two laureates are arriving. they are welcomed as usual by the head of the nobel community. secretary of the committee. the prizewinners have come

directly from the royal palace where they met the king and queen. a full program. and the other members of the nobel community here to receive them. and nobel laureates have a moment before entering the hall. getting ready for the important ceremony.

there is already a close connection between the two recipients. and now they are signing the guestbook of the city hall of oslo. now ready to welcome the prizewinners into the hall are for trumpeters from the royal navy band. the first guests started to arrive about an hour ago and have had time to admire the art in the hall.

here is the official norway, prime minister. several other members of the norwegian cabinet. and many parliament members. there are some of the artists to be presented tomorrow at the traditional nobel concert. and so the families of the recipients, father, mother,

brother. so on that side, here is the family. also present. and now waiting for the procession. procession. the beautiful norwegian art examples in the hall. the big oil painting.

important happenings in norwegian history. welcomed back to norway in 1945 after world war ii. on the other side of the hall, the fresco from norwegian working life. the norwegian royal family are arriving.

an old tradition that the royal family is present at the ceremony, again, being welcomed by the leader and secretary of the nobel committee. his majesty, her majesty, queen sonja, and arriving. the 49 bells 49 bells play an important role in today's ceremony as they do in the daily life of the city of oslo. and now the trumpeters are ready.

♪ [applauding] >> and more fanfare. ♪

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♪ ♪ [applause] [applause]

your majesty, your royal highness, excellencies, ladies and gentlemen a conscience exists in the world that extends beyond all the boundaries which is independent of the religion, culture and social appearances. children have a right to childhood. children should go to school and not be forced to work. they shouldn't start their lives at others. there is no expression then

malala yousafzai. [applause] nobel peace laureates, a strong expression between the nations we are honored to have you here, congratulations. [applause]

the role is paved with knowledge. the taliban dislike knowledge because they know it is an unburdened condition for freedom and they deprive such forces from power but nothing should be further then using suicide bombs against them or shooting at a younger old whose only demand was to be allowed to go to school. violence cannot be justified in any religion. protect life and it cannot be used to take life.

the two that we have today stand a very firm on this point. they live according to what he said there are many purposes i would have died for. there are no purposes i would have killed for. these are precisely the people are the champions of peace. they are not only behind the desk but they practice. your majesty, your highness, ladies and gentlemen, the mission is quite simple to put an end to child labor since a career as an engineer in 1980, this has been the overriding

game. she has worked at several different from a grassroots level she has achieved the release of some 80,000 children sometimes a very dramatic circumstances. she has also been brutally attacked. it takes the whole fantasy to imagine the reaction when the workers go down to such the children free. they've profited from the child labor mainly that do not give up without a struggle. he himself has. they are not recruited by kidnapping but are also hired out by those that cannot manage.

it remains very widespread not only in india but in many other countries. it insists it isn't poverty that leads onto the child labor. on to the child labor. a child labor maintains poverty carrying it from generation to generation. school attendance release people from poverty. they've developed a model for children to be rehabilitated and get education. that must be provided with the basic knowledge to enable them to some extent as the only citizens as slaves. we've set said a number of different organizations which work both in india and internationally to fulfill the

rights. it is perhaps the most important instrument taking direct action to assist children free. the struggle is marked by the great inventiveness established in 1994. now it is a striking example. all have not been made by child labor and the work of inspectors have been set up to ensure that the system works. the children get to go to school and the adult workers and exporters pay a fee to keep up the system of the inspections

and controls. the efforts are enhanced and are both made by child labor. on the 17th of january, 1998, they and marked on the biggest project, the global march against child labor. 7 million children and adults to part in the march that extended to many different countries and regions. they ended up in front of geneva the child labor laws unanimously adopted. it's currently done by 172 countries.

[inaudible] more than 82 and the human convention now form the basis of the struggle against child labor and for education which nevertheless remains to be determined. they are in india alone. if the country that would be in the right direction. there are currently 68 million. in the year 2000 the figure was 78 million higher. things are thus moving in the right direction.

they leave the child labor can be more or less eliminated. everyone here shares this hope. [applause] your majesty, highnesses, ladies and gentlemen, malala yousafzai is the youngest of all time. a story that has nevertheless become known over the world. when she was 11 or 12 she began to write the book for the bbc about what it was like to live in this valley in northwest

pakistan and the pressure from the taliban and the only ambulance from the pakistani authorities. they had to close the girls schools. it was right from the start girls have a self-evident rights to education. the current is almost indescribable. we all know what happened in 2012. a man climbed into the school bus and went after malala. he fired three shots at her injuring her most severely. her life was saved and she decided to continue her struggle for girls education although the

taliban have made no secret of her intention to try again. [applause] the population numbers are needed one quarter of between five to 16-years-old the nation's constitution guarantees the free and compulsory education but nearly half of the 52 million do not go to school. a large majority of them are girls. schools have been built without walls, without running water and

not as important indoctrination is sometimes more important that the skills and knowledge needed in order to cope in the modern world of black was needed. we appreciate about authority and pray for the peace prize. but the best gift that they could give her would-be domestic improvements in the education system. [applause] that's what a benefit all of pakistan and would provide a large economic and social view that invest in girls education.

and this logic applies all over the world by placing the individual person at the center of all politics when they see that those that are excluded or not the burden or threat to the society. they have to send the huge resource. here in europe without wonders it's not that they received no education or art obliged to work. far too many find no use for education were no opportunities to work. we need to leave this negative situation and instead give the young generation that hope.

young people must be able to see into the future instead of being attacked by dark forces. ladies and gentlemen, what is in the nature of extremism to create enemies and frightening images and to divide the world between us and them. show us something else. a younger girl and somewhat older man went from pakistan and india. one muslim and the other hindu both symbols of what the world needs, more unity. [applause]

they have underlined that it is bringing an in-depth view and yet so distant close to another this without an extra dimension to the price and the we all share this hope. ladies and gentlemen we need people like kailash satyarthi malala yousafzai to show that it helps to fight. if any of us have had a greater courage to living according to mohamed gondhi's principle that says i accept only one pilot in the world and that is still the

small vice within me. we have become accustomed to the voices of others to turn our heads to the social media while looking at the economic instance where the political leaders. we often forget to listen to the words of justice. but we should bear in mind freedom and justice have never been ceremonial. the world never progressed thanks to the calculating people it demands the effort of people with courage so ladies and gentlemen we live in the world

to treat the extremism that we see around us. it is by increasing humanity. then they are no longer prepared to do so. people like malala yousafzai and kailash satyarthi have brought us there but it shows it helps to resist even in the most difficult circumstances. i cannot explain how much i have struggled to find the right to say how well in my area.

i will only say this at the end. there will be two new jewels in the history of the nobel peace prize. the role of campaigning and struggling people who created a global conscience of which we can call for freedom and justice of the most important. thank you. [applause]

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your majesty is coming your highness, ladies and gentlemen now i call on you to come forward to receive the gold medal and a diploma. [applause] [applause]

now i call upon malala yousafzai to come forward to receive the gold medal and a diploma. please come forward. [applause]

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>> your majesty, your highness he is, babies and gentlemen, now i call upon the 2014, mr. kailash satyarthi, please come forward to give your election. [applause] [speaking in native tongue] >> your well majesty is, your royal highness, my daughter,

malala, excellencies, dear brother tom harkin, sisters and brothers. [speaking in native tongue] [speaking in native tongue] [speaking in native tongue]

[speaking in native tongue] [speaking in hindi] [speaking in hindi] [applause] [speaking in hindi]

[speaking in hindi] [speaking in hindi] [speaking in hindi] [applause] [speaking in hindi]

[speaking in hindi] [speaking in hindi] [speaking in hindi] [speaking in hindi] [applause] [speaking in hindi]

[speaking in hindi] >> france, nobel committee has generously invited me to this election. respectfully, i am unable to do that. because i am representing here the sound of silence, the cry of innocents and the faith those indivisibility.

i represent millions of those children who are left behind and that is why i have kept an empty chair as a reminder. i come here only to share the voices in dreams of our agenda. because they are all of our children. i have looked into their frightened and exhausted eyes. i have held their injured bodies and have felt their broken spirits. 20 years ago, i met a small,

skinny child labor. he asked, is the world so poor that it cannot give me a toy and a book? instead of forcing me to take a done worry tool? and that a sudanese child soldier. he was kidnapped by an extremist militia. he was forced to kill his friends and family. he asked me, what is my fault? 12 years ago, a child's mother, from the streets of columbia

trafficked enslaved, asked me this, i've never had a dream, can my child have one? friends, all of the great revisions teach us to care for our children. let the children come to me. do not hinder them for the kingdom of god belongs to them. holy quran says killed not your children because of poverty. friends, there is no greater violence than two denied the dreams of our children. therefore, i refuse to accept

that all the temples and mosques and churches and prayer houses have no room for our children. i refuse to accept that the world is so poor, when just one military expenditure can bring all the children to classrooms. i refuse to accept that all the laws and constitutions are unable to protect their children. i refuse to accept that it can never be more strong than the quest for freedom. i refuse to accept it. [cheers and applause]

[applause] my only aim in life is that every child is free to be a child. free to eat, sleep and see the light. free to laugh and cry, free to play and learn. free to go to school and ever more free to dream. i had the privilege of working with many courageous people who have the same aim. we have never given up against any and we will matter.

we have made progress in a couple of years. a couple of the biggest. we have reduced the number of children by half. we have reduced the number of child laborers by a third. we have reduced child mortality, malnutrition and we have prevented millions of child deaths. but, let us make no mistake. the great challenges still remain. friends, the biggest challenge or the biggest crisis, knocking on the doors of humankind, our fears and intolerance.

our children and parking in education, and education that gives them meaning and objective outlook. and education that gives the sense among youth. i am afraid that today is not very far when the cumulative result of all of the failures all culminates an unprecedented violence and that will be a society for the humankind. light, security, hope can only be referred on 10 to education. young people like malala. so my daughter malala and all

our daughters and saudia and the dodgers from africa and all over the world, they are rising up in choosing ease over violence, tolerance over extremism and over fear. the solutions are emerging, but a solution cannot be found in the deliberations and conferences along and cannot be found from a distance. they lie in small groups and local organizations. individuals who are confronting the problems every day, even if

it remains on it knowledged, unrecognized and unknown to the world, the solutions will calm. friends, what is missing now, of course mcpaper is missing. [laughter] here, no problem. i will continue without notes. we can do it.

you may ask that what one person can do i could recall a story of my childhood. a heavy fire broken out in the forest. thank you so much. some never lawyer before or not. but some think it is happening today. [cheers and applause] and the best thing that happened is a young, courageous pakistani girl has notched an indian father and the indian father

matched the pakistani daughter. i was telling you the story of what i remember from my childhood. a heavy fire broken out in the jungle. everyone was running away including the lions. i meant straight through the fire, he asked the bird, what are you doing? the bird said i am going to extinguish the fire. the lion laughed and said how can you do it?

keeping just one drop of water in your beak? at the bird wasn't damaged. she said i am doing my bit. [applause] 10 years ago, millions of people, individuals marched across the globe. they demanded a new international law for child labor to have happened. we did it. millions of individuals together did it. friends, we live in an age of

globalization. we are connected to a high-speed internet. we exchange our services and one local market for life every day cannot does from one corner to another corner of the globe. but there is one serious disconnect and that is the lack of compassion. but if inculcate and transformed into global compassion. bloodless globalize compassion. [applause] mahatma gandhi said, if we are

to teach real peace to the world , we shall have to begin with the children. i humbly add, let us unite a world through the compassion of our children. [applause] i asked, whose children are they? yet, never played with one. whose children are they who harvest cocoa, but i've never tasted the chocolate? who are those that are dying of a bolo? who are they better kidnapped

yesterday? they are all of our children. i remember an 8-year-old girl was killed from post-labor. you are sitting with me in my car, read it to the rescue. she asked me, why did you not, early? they have the power to shape the world. what are we doing? what are we waiting for? how many girls will be allowed to go without rescue? children are questioning,

children are questioning. we need collective action. every single minute matters. every single child atters. every single child matters. [applause] therefore -- therefore, capacity and pessimism surrounding our children. the personal silence and the culture. the intergovernmental agencies, businesses, workers, teachers, ngos, faith leaders and each one of us to put an end to all

forms of violence against children. slavery, trafficking, child labor, child sexual abuse. these things have no place in any civilized society. [applause] friends, we can do this. government does not make child friendly policies invest in education and young people. the businesses must be more responsible, accountable and ready with partnerships. intergovernmental agencies must work together to accelerate action. global civil society must rise above the businesses are

unfragmented. faith leaders, institutions and all of us must be with our children. we must be bold. we must be ambitious. and we must have the will. over 50 years ago, on the first day of my school, i met a boy sitting outside the gate of my school. i asked my teacher, why are you sitting outside? why is he not with us in the classroom? he had no answer. one day i gathered all of my courage and went to the father of that little boy. and he said sir, i have never talked about