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| Malala addresses the world at the UN |
Hers was an eyewitness testimony to education by a young survivor.
It was also proof of her courage that -- eight months after being
shot and left for dead by the Taliban in Pakistan -- Malala should call “on all
governments to ensure free compulsory education for every child all over the
world.”
“Poverty, ignorance, injustice, racism and the deprivation of basic
rights are the main problems faced by both men and women,” she said.
“So let us wage a global
struggle against illiteracy, poverty and terrorism and let us pick up our books
and pens. They are our most powerful weapons,” Malala appealed, proudly watched
by her parents.
Her address should be distributed to all schools. Parents should
play it to their children. All heads of state as well as foreign and education
ministers should memorize it. It would make good reading for the Taliban… if
they have the courage to read.
Education is the
only way we might see a fall in the number of child brides, the eventual
abolition of Female Genital Mutilation, gender equality in the workplace and at
home and hopefully racial and religious tolerance.
That’s why, last October I called on the The Norwegian Nobel Committee to award Malala Yousafzai and girls’ education
the Nobel Peace Prize.
After the Nobel Peace Prize going to U.S. President Barack Obama (2009) and the
European Union (2012) -- shocking choices in both cases -- what better way to
encourage peace than through education generally and girls’ education
specifically?
In the name of God, The Most Beneficent, The
Most Merciful.
Honorable UN Secretary General Mr Ban Ki-moon,
Respected President General Assembly Vuk
Jeremic
Honorable UN envoy for Global Education Mr
Gordon Brown,
Respected elders and my dear brothers and
sisters;
Today, it is an honor for me to be speaking again after a long time.
Being here with such honorable people is a great moment in my life.
I don't know where to begin my speech. I don't know what people
would be expecting me to say. But first of all, thank you to God for whom we
all are equal and thank you to every person who has prayed for my fast recovery
and a new life. I cannot believe how much love people have shown me. I have
received thousands of good wish cards and gifts from all over the world. Thank
you to all of them. Thank you to the children whose innocent words encouraged
me. Thank you to my elders whose prayers strengthened me.
I would like to thank my nurses, doctors and all of the staff of
the hospitals in Pakistan and the UK and the UAE government who have helped me
get better and recover my strength. I fully support Mr Ban Ki-moon the
Secretary-General in his Global Education First Initiative and the work of the
UN Special Envoy Mr Gordon Brown. And I thank them both for the leadership they
continue to give. They continue to inspire all of us to action.
Dear brothers and sisters, do remember one thing. Malala Day is not
my day. Today is the day of every woman, every boy and every girl who have
raised their voice for their rights. There are hundreds of human rights
activists and social workers who are not only speaking for human rights, but
who are struggling to achieve their goals of education, peace and equality.
Thousands of people have been killed by the terrorists and millions have been
injured. I am just one of them.
I speak – not for myself, but for all girls and boys.
I raise up my voice – not so that I can shout, but so that those
without a voice can be heard.
Those who have fought for their rights:
Their right to live in peace.
Their right to be treated with dignity.
Their right to equality of opportunity.
Their right to be educated.
Dear Friends, on the 9th of October 2012, the Taliban shot me on
the left side of my forehead. They shot my friends too. They thought that the
bullets would silence us. But they failed. And then, out of that silence came,
thousands of voices. The terrorists thought that they would change our aims and
stop our ambitions but nothing changed in my life except this: Weakness, fear
and hopelessness died. Strength, power and courage was born. I am the same Malala. My ambitions are the
same. My hopes are the same. My dreams are the same.
Dear sisters and brothers, I am not against anyone. Neither am I
here to speak in terms of personal revenge against the Taliban or any other
terrorists group. I am here to speak up for the right of education of every
child. I want education for the sons and the daughters of all the extremists
especially the Taliban.
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| Malala's proud parents |
Dear sisters and brothers, we realize the importance of light when
we see darkness. We realize the importance of our voice when we are silenced.
In the same way, when we were in Swat, the north of Pakistan, we realized the
importance of pens and books when we saw the guns.
The wise saying, “The pen is mightier than sword” was true. The
extremists are afraid of books and pens. The power of education frightens them.
They are afraid of women. The power of the voice of women frightens them. And
that is why they killed 14 innocent medical students in the recent attack in
Quetta. And that is why they killed many female teachers and polio workers in
Khyber Pukhtoon Khwa and FATA. That is why they are blasting schools every day.
Because they were and they are afraid of change, afraid of the equality that we
will bring into our society.
I remember that there was a boy in our school who was asked by a
journalist, “Why are the Taliban against education?” He answered very simply.
By pointing to his book he said, “A Talib doesn't know what is written inside
this book.” They think that God is a tiny, little conservative being who would
send girls to the hell just because of going to school. The terrorists are
misusing the name of Islam and Pashtun society for their own personal benefits.
Pakistan is peace-loving democratic country. Pashtuns want education for their
daughters and sons. And Islam is a religion of peace, humanity and brotherhood.
Islam says that it is not only each child's right to get education, rather it
is their duty and responsibility.
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| Malala applauded by Ban Ki-moon and the assembly |
Dear fellows, today I am focusing on women's rights and girls'
education because they are suffering the most. There was a time when women
social activists asked men to stand up for their rights. But, this time, we
will do it by ourselves. I am not telling men to step away from speaking for
women's rights rather I am focusing on women to be independent to fight for
themselves.
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| Encouragement from Gordon Brown |
So today, we call upon the world leaders to change their strategic
policies in favor of peace and prosperity.
We call upon the world leaders that all the peace deals must
protect women and children's rights. A deal that goes against the dignity of
women and their rights is unacceptable.
We call upon all governments to ensure free compulsory education
for every child all over the world.
We call upon all governments to fight against terrorism and
violence, to protect children from brutality and harm.
We call upon the developed nations to support the expansion of
educational opportunities for girls in the developing world.
We call upon all communities to be tolerant – to reject prejudice
based on cast, creed, sect, religion or gender. To ensure freedom and equality
for women so that they can flourish. We cannot all succeed when half of us are
held back.
We call upon our sisters around the world to be brave – to embrace
the strength within themselves and realize their full potential.
Dear brothers and sisters, we want schools and education for every
child's bright future. We will continue our journey to our destination of peace
and education for everyone. No one can stop us. We will speak for our rights
and we will bring change through our voice. We must believe in the power and
the strength of our words. Our words can change the world.
Because we are all together, united for the cause of education. And
if we want to achieve our goal, then let us empower ourselves with the weapon
of knowledge and let us shield ourselves with unity and togetherness.
Dear brothers and sisters, we must not forget that millions of
people are suffering from poverty, injustice and ignorance. We must not forget
that millions of children are out of schools. We must not forget that our
sisters and brothers are waiting for a bright peaceful future.
So let us wage a global struggle against illiteracy, poverty and
terrorism and let us pick up our books and pens. 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.
Related posts:
A Nobel Peace Prize for Malala and Hina -- October 29, 2012
The Power of We… for education -- October 15, 2012
Tale of 2 visions: For and against
women -- December 19, 2012
