NEW YORK: Pakistan teenager Malala Yousafzai has said that attempt on her life has reinforced her resolve to work for a change through promotion of education.
Malala was addressing a special ceremony held at the UN in New York on Friday to mark her 16th birthday.
Malala Yousafzai said terrorists and extremists are afraid of change and equality that education could bring in the society and that is why they are blowing up schools‚ attacking students and teachers and killing polio workers.
She said her struggle is for right to live in peace‚ to be treated with dignity‚ right to equality and right to be educated. She said Malala Day is not her day but of those boys and girls fighting for their rights.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon paid rich tributes to Malala for her courage to stand up against extremists and terrorists for the sake of a noble cause.
He pointed out that there are 57 million children out of school and it is our responsibility to bring them to school by 2015. He also regretted that international aid for basic education has declined for the first time in a decade.
The UN Secretary-General said it is world of youth as half of the world’s population is under 35. He urged all governments to pay attention to their education and aspirations.
Former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and UN Special envoy for Global Education Gordon Brown said that that the whole world is with Malala Yousafzai in her struggle for promotion of education.
He said Malala’s mission will be took forward because education is the only way to bring change. He said enrollment of 57 million children in the schools is our mission. He said it is the responsibility of all the governments to take measures for education of the children.
Meanwhile‚ civil society‚ human rights organizations and other institutions organized various functions in Peshawar to mark the Malala day.
Scholars‚ educationists and analysts participated and paid tribute to Malala‚ who struggled for the girls education.
