Malala Yousafzai, was targeted by the Taliban in 2012 because she demanded the right for girls to be educated. For her beliefs, the Taliban shot her in the head in her home country of Pakistan two years ago on October 9th. She and her father, who operated schools in the Swat Valley, had become targets of the extremist group for protesting the increasing bans on girls receiving an education. Malala wrote an anonymous blog for the BBC about the Taliban presence and its effects, and then rose to more public prominence as a girl’s education activist, putting her at serious risk of retribution.
Malala survived her attack and quickly returned to fighting for the rights for girls to learn. Her story drew international attention to her bravery and determination in working for what she believes is a human right. The tumultuous situation in Pakistan did not affect how outspoken she was about this belief. She has given speeches at the United Nations and all around the world about the importance of education in making the world a better place, even preventing acts of terror.
Her experience with the Taliban did not frighten her, in fact it motivated her to fight harder: “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.”
Malala continues to promote universal education and the rights of girls and women, a historically subordinated group in all parts of the world regardless of dominant religion or form of government.
“One child, one teacher, one pen and one book can change the world.”
Her message has earned her one of two Nobel Peace Prizes granted this year (the other was awarded to Indian activist Kailash Satyarthi.) Malala and Kailash received this honor for “their struggle against the suppression of children and young people and the right of all children to education.”
In Malala’s acceptance speech she asserted that “A girl has the power to go forward in her life. And she’s not only a mother, she’s not only a sister, she’s not only a wife, but she should have an identity, she has equal rights and should be recognized as a voice.”
I have included a video of her moving Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech that again brings to light international and human rights issues. Those of us in the West praise Malala for her statements but her home country of Pakistan may not feel the same way. The criticism only reinforces the need for action.