UN announces November 10 to be celebrated as Malala Day

New York, Nov 9: The bravery of teenage Pakistani education activist Malala Yousafzai has inspired everyone. Now, United Nations has decided to honour Malala and her work.

This undated photo released by Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, shows the 15-year-old girl Malala Yousufzai.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon has announced that Nov 10, 2012 will be celebrated as Malala Day world over, as it marks the 30-day anniversary of the Taliban attack on the 15-year-old education campaigner from Pakistan.

The Express Tribune quoted Ki-Moon as saying that "Malala is an inspiration for girls education world over."

On Friday, Nov 9, the UN special envoy for global education visited Pakistan and present President Asif Ali Zardari with a petition signed by over one million people asking that he make girls education a reality in Pakistan.

Ki-Moon hoped that observing Malala day will build on the momentum of UN's Education First initiative and show that education is a right of everyone and not a privilege for a few.

The teenaged girl was attacked by Taliban fighters in Mingora, the main town of Swat Valley, last month for speaking out against the militants where they controlled the region three years ago. After undergoing surgery in Peshawar to remove a bullet lodged near her spine, Malala was flown to Britain so that she could be provided specialised care. The Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan has threatened to target Malala and members of her family, including her father who runs a school in Mingora.

OneIndia News