Pakistan along with United Nations Organizations is observing Malala Day on Monday that was announced by UN to mark the day on the birthday of young Pakistani teen, Malala Yousufzai.
Malala Yousafzai, born 12 July 1997 was a Pakistani school pupil and education activist from the town of Mingora in the Swat District of Pakistan's northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. She was known for her activism for rights to education and for women, especially in the Swat Valley, where the militants had at times banned girls from attending school.
Daughter of a schoolteacher, Pakistani teen Malala valued and continued her education despite threats from the militants. In 2012, she was shot along her two friends, at her school by armed militants in Swat valley. Malala went abroad for treatment and in concern of her security she is living in London now days.
The assassination attempt sparked a national and international outpouring of support for Yousafzai. She was the winner of Pakistan's first National Youth Peace Prize and was a nominee for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2013. She spoke at the UN to call for worldwide access to education, and in September 2013 she officially opened the Library of Birmingham. Yousafzai is the recipient of the Sakharov Prize for 2013.
Malala Day, observed this year on 14 July 2014, is not just a day to celebrate Malala Yousafzai but it is a day for all children across the world to raise their voices and be heard. It is a day to stand up for education and express the strength against the enemies of education. At this moment there are 58 million children without access to education and millions more who aren't learning in school.
Malala Yousafzai on the occasion said, "My birthday wish this year is that we all raise our voices for those under oppression, to show our own power and courage is stronger than their campaign of fear." Malala's story brings to light the struggle for education that girls around the world face today. Malala Day, July 14, is an important day to raise awareness and to help girls realize their right to education.
Source: KUNA