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Shot Pakistan schoolgirl Malala Yousafzai addresses UN | Shot Pakistan schoolgirl Malala Yousafzai addresses UN |
(35 minutes later) | |
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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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' | 'Afraid of women' |
After the shooting, Malala was flown from Pakistan to the UK for treatment, and now lives in Birmingham, England. | After the shooting, Malala was flown from Pakistan to the UK for treatment, and now lives in Birmingham, England. |
Amid several standing ovations, Malala told the UN on Friday that the Taliban's attack had only made her more resolute. | Amid several standing ovations, Malala told the UN on Friday that the Taliban's attack had only made her more resolute. |
"The terrorists thought that they would change my aims and stop my ambitions," she said, "but nothing changed in my life, except this: weakness, fear and hopelessness died. Strength, power and courage was born." | |
She continued: "I want education for the sons and daughters of the Taliban and all the terrorists and extremists." | She continued: "I want education for the sons and daughters of the Taliban and all the terrorists and extremists." |
Malala - who is considered a contender for the Nobel Peace Prize - said she was fighting for the rights of women because "they are the ones who suffer the most". | |
"The extremists were, and they are, afraid of books and pens," added Malala, who was wearing a pink shawl that belonged to assassinated Pakistan leader Benazir Bhutto. "They are afraid of women." | "The extremists were, and they are, afraid of books and pens," added Malala, who was wearing a pink shawl that belonged to assassinated Pakistan leader Benazir Bhutto. "They are afraid of women." |
She called on politicians to take urgent action to ensure every child has the right to go to school. | She called on politicians to take urgent action to ensure every child has the right to go to school. |
"Let us pick up our books and pens," Malala summed up. "They are our most powerful weapons. | "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." | "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. | 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". | 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. | 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. |
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. | 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. | "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. | 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. | 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. |