- Malala Yousafzai is a Pakistani activist for female education and women's rights who was shot by the Taliban at age 15 for her advocacy work. - She survived the assassination attempt and has since become a global symbol for human rights, receiving numerous honors including the Nobel Peace Prize. - On her 16th birthday, Malala gave a powerful speech at the United Nations urging world leaders to ensure every child receives an education.

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2. Malala Yousafzai (L) gives her first speech since the Taliban in Pakistan tried to kill her for
advocating education for girls, at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, July 12, 2013.
Wearing a pink head scarf, Yousafzai told U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (top R) and
nearly 1,000 students from around the world attending a Youth Assembly at U.N.
headquarters in New York that education was the only way to improve lives.
The story of Malala Yousafzai

3. Malala Yousafzai arrives for a meeting with Secretary-General of the United Nations Ban Ki-
moon (not pictured), prior to her first speech since the Taliban in Pakistan tried to kill her for
advocating education for girls, at the U.N. Headquarters in New York, July 12, 2013.

4. Malala Yousafzai gives her first speech since the Taliban in Pakistan tried to kill her for
advocating education for girls, at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, July 12, 2013.

5. Malala Yousafzai, gives her first speech since the Taliban in Pakistan tried to kill her for
advocating education for girls, at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, July 12, 2013.

6. Pakistani schoolgirl, Malala Yousufzai, who was shot in the head by the Taliban for advocating
girls' education, is seen sitting in her hospital bed in this undated still picture taken from
video provided by the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, in Birmingham, central England, and received
in London on February 4, 2013.

7. Pakistani schoolgirl, Malala Yousufzai, who was shot in the head by the Taliban for advocating
girls' education, is seen speaking to critical care consultant Mav Manji, in this undated still
picture taken from video provided by the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, in Birmingham, central
England, and received in London on February 4, 2013.

8. Pakistani schoolgirl Malala Yousufzai (C) waves with nurses as she is discharged from The Queen Elizabeth
Hospital in Birmingham in this handout photograph released on January 4, 2013.

9. Pakistan's President Asif Zardari meets with schoolgirl Malala Yousufzai (R) during his visit to
the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, central England December 8, 2012.

10. Children of supporters of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) party hold potraits of
Malala Yousufzai in Karachi November 10, 2012.

11. Civil society members hold a banner with an image of Malala Yousufzai as they mark Malala
Day in Peshawar November 10, 2012.

12. Pakistani schoolgirl Malala Yousufzai talks to her father, Ziauddin Yousufzai, as she
recuperates at the The Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, in this undated handout
photograph released to Reuters on November 8, 2012.

13. Malala Yousufzai is seen with her father Ziauddin and her two younger brothers Khushal Khan
and Atal Khan (R), as she recuperates at the The Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, in
this photograph taken October 25, 2012 and released October 26, 2012.

14. Ziauddin Yousufzai, accompanied by his 12-year-old son Khushal, talks to the media after
visiting his daughter Malala at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, northern England
October 26, 2012. The father of a Pakistani girl who was shot in the head by the the Taliban
for advocating girls' education said on Friday his daughter was strong and would "rise again"
to pursue her dreams after receiving treatment in a British hospital.

15. Malala Yousufzai is seen recuperating at the The Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham in
this handout photograph released October 19, 2012. Malala, a Pakistani girl shot in the head
by Taliban gunmen is "not out of the woods" but is doing well and has been able to stand for
the first time with some help, doctors at the British hospital treating her said on Friday.

16. Hospital staff assists Malala Yousufzai, a 14-year-old schoolgirl who was wounded in a gun
attack, at the Saidu Sharif Teaching Hospital in the Swat Valley, northwest Pakistan October 9,
2012. Taliban gunmen in Pakistan shot and seriously wounded a 14-year-old schoolgirl who
rose to fame for speaking out against the militants, authorities said.

17. Hospital staff assist Malala Yousufzai, a 14-year-old schoolgirl who was wounded in a gun
attack, at Saidu Sharif Teaching Hospital in the Swat Valley region in northwest Pakistan
October 9, 2012. Yousufzai became famous for speaking out against the Pakistani Taliban at a
time when even the government seemed to be appeasing the hardline Islamists.

18. Malala Yousufzai, a Pakistani schoolgirl who was shot by the Taliban on October 9, 2012 for
speaking out against the militants and promoting education for girls, is seen in Swat Valley,
northwest Pakistan, in this undated file photo.

19. Malala Yousufzai, a 14-year-old schoolgirl, who was wounded in a gun attack, is seen in Swat
Valley, northwest Pakistan, in this undated file photo.

20. A protester carries a portrait of 14-year-old Pakistani girl, Malala Yousufzai, during a
candlelight vigil by a women's group in Hong Kong October 19, 2012.

21. Activists from non-governmental organisations in support of human rights hold pictures of
Malala Yousufzai during a demonstration in Islamabad October 10, 2012.

22. Students pray for the speedy recovery of schoolgirl Malala Yousufzai, who was shot on
Tuesday by the Taliban for speaking out against the militants and promoting education for
girls, at a school in Peshawar October 12, 2012.

23. Women hold lighted candles during a rally condemning the attack on schoolgirl Malala
Yousufzai, in Karachi October 11, 2012.

24. A picture of Malala Yousufzai, who was shot on Tuesday by the Taliban for speaking out
against the militants and promoting education for girls, is displayed next to lighted candles in
Lahore October 12, 2012. The Urdu words under her picture read, "Daughter of the nation,
symbol of peace, the nation prays for you, Malala Yousufzai".

25. A female supporter of the National Commission of Human Development (NCHD) prays next to
pictures of schoolgirl Malala Yousufzai, who was shot on Tuesday by the Taliban, during a
candlelight vigil for her speedy recovery, in Karachi October 13, 2012.

26. Students hold pictures of schoolgirl Malala Yousufzai, who was shot on Tuesday by the
Taliban, at a school in Karachi October 13, 2012.

27. Devotees pray for schoolgirl Malala Yousufzai, who was shot on October 9 by the Taliban, at a
Sunday service at the Sacred Heart Cathedral in Lahore October 14, 2012.

28. A portrait of Malala Yousufzai, who was shot on October 9 by the Taliban, is displayed during
a Sunday service at the Sacred Heart Cathedral in Lahore on October 14, 2012.

29. A girl holds a placard next to an image of schoolgirl Malala Yousufzai, who was shot on
October 9 by the Taliban, during a rally organized by National Students Federation (NSF) in
Lahore October 15, 2012.

30. Students hold pictures of schoolgirl Malala Yousufzai, who was shot by the Taliban, during a
tribute at the Pakistani Embassy in Abu Dhabi October 15, 2012.

31. A girl holding a portrait of Pakistani schoolgirl Malala Yousufzai participates during a
candlelight vigil organized by Nepalese Youth in Kathmandu October 15, 2012.

32. • Malala Yousafzai, born 12 July 1997) is a Pakistani school pupil
and education activist from the town of Mingora in the Swat
District of Pakistan's northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
She is known for her education and women's rights activism in the
Swat Valley, where the Taliban had at times banned girls from
attending school. In early 2009, at the age of 11–12, Yousafzai
wrote a blog under a pseudonym for the BBC detailing her life
under Taliban rule, their attempts to take control of the valley,
and her views on promoting education for girls. The following
summer, a New York Times documentary was filmed about her
life as the Pakistani military intervened in the region, culminating
in the Second Battle of Swat. Yousafzai began to rise in
prominence, giving interviews in print and on television and
taking a position as chairperson of the District Child Assembly
Swat. She has since been nominated for the International
Children's Peace Prize by Desmond Tutu and the Nobel Peace
Prize, being the youngest nominee in history for the latter. She is
the winner of Pakistan's first National Youth Peace Prize.
The story of Malala Yousafzai

34. • On 9 October 2012, Yousafzai was shot in the head
and neck in an assassination attempt by Taliban
gunmen while returning home on a school bus. In
the days immediately following the attack, she
remained unconscious and in critical condition, but
later her condition improved enough for her to be
sent to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham
in the United Kingdom for intensive rehabilitation.
On 12 October, a group of 50 Islamic clerics in
Pakistan issued a fatwā against those who tried to
kill her, but the Taliban reiterated its intent to kill
Yousafzai and her father, Ziauddin.

36. • Former British Prime Minister and current U.N. Special
Envoy for Global Education Gordon Brown launched a
United Nations petition in Yousafzai's name, using the
slogan "I am Malala" and demanding that all children
worldwide be in school by the end of 2015. Brown said he
would hand the petition to Pakistan's President Asif Ali
Zardari in November. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon
has announced on 10 November that 12 July, the birthday of
Malala Yousafzai will be celebrated as Malala Day.
• In the 29 April 2013 issue of Time magazine, Malala was
featured on the magazine's front cover and as one of "The
100 Most Influential People In The World". Her section was
written by Chelsea Clinton, daughter of former US President
Bill Clinton and First Lady Hillary Clinton.

38. Malala Yousafzai Celebrated Her 16th Birthday by Giving an
Incredible Speech at the U.N.
• Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani girl shot by the Taliban, has told
the UN that books and pens scare extremists, as she urged
education for all.
Speaking on her 16th birthday, Malala said efforts to silence her
had failed.
She was shot in the head on a school bus by Taliban gunmen
because of her campaign for girls' rights.
The speech at the UN headquarters in New York was her first
public address since last October's incident in Pakistan's north-
western Swat valley.
Malala has been credited with bringing the issue of women's
education to global attention. A quarter of young women around
the world have not completed primary school.
'Afraid of women'
She called on politicians to take urgent action to ensure every
child has the right to go to school.

40. • Let us pick up our books and pens," Malala summed up.
"They are our most powerful weapons.
"One child, one teacher, one pen and one book can change
the world. Education is the only solution. Education first."
A passionate campaigner for female education, Malala
addressed more than 500 students at a specially convened
youth assembly.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon also addressed Friday's
session, calling Malala "our hero".
The schoolgirl, who set up the Malala Fund following the
attack, presented a petition of more than three million
signatures to the UN secretary general demanding education
for all.

42. • Former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown opened the session, telling
the youths gathered they were a "new superpower" in the world, and
appealing to them to help overcome obstacles to accessing education.
The event, described by the UN as Malala Day, was organised by Mr
Brown, now the UN Special Envoy for Global Education.
He said: "Getting every girl and boy into school by 2015 is achievable.
"Malala says it is possible - and young people all over the world think it is
possible," he said.
Aid agencies say that female access to education in Pakistan is a
particular problem.
They say that the country ranks among the lowest in terms of girls'
education enrolment, literacy and government spending.
Unesco and Save the Children released a special reported ahead of
Malala's speech.
It found that 95% of the 28.5 million children who are not getting a
primary school education live in low and lower-middle income
countries: 44% in sub-Saharan Africa, 19% in south and west Asia and
14% in the Arab states.
Girls make up 55% of the total and are often the victims of rape and
other sexual violence that accompanies armed conflicts.

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