• The United Nations has designated children’s rights activist and Nobel Laureate, Yousafzai Malala, as a UN Messenger of Peace with a special focus on girls’ education.

    Speaking at a ceremony at UN headquarters in New York on Monday, the UN Secretary-General António Guterres, who presented the award to her, praised Malala for her contributions to girls’ education even in the most difficult places.

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    Malala receives her award from UN Sec. Gen.; Guterres

    “You have been to the most difficult places, visited several refugee camps. Your foundation has schools in Lebanon, in the Beka’a Valley.

    “You are a symbol of perhaps, the most important thing in the world, ‘education for all,” he said.

    Guterres said he hoped “this spirit can serve as an example that it is not by closing doors that we will all be able to move forward”.

    Accepting the conferment, the 19-yera-old Malala, underscored the importance of education, especially education of girls, for advancing communities and societies.

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    “Bringing change starts with us and it should start now. If you want to see your future bright, you have to start working now and not wait for anyone else,” she said.

    UN Messengers of Peace are distinguished individuals, carefully selected from the fields of art, literature, science, entertainment, sports or other fields of public life, who have agreed to help focus worldwide attention on the work of the UN.

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    Malala, right with UN deputy Secretary General, Amina Mohammed

    After her designation, Guterres, Yousafzai and UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed, conversed with youth representatives from around the world on the theme of girls’ education.

    Malala, in her remarks, said the most difficult time she faced had been from 2007 to 2009 in the Swat Valley.

     

    Yousafzai Malala, who was shot in 2012 by the Taliban for attending classes, is the youngest-ever UN Messenger of Peace and the first one to be designated by Guterres since he assumed office in January.

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