Shot Pakistan Schoolgirl Malala Yousafzai Addresses UN
Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani girl shot by the Taliban, has told the United Nations 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.
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.
After the shooting Malala was flown from Pakistan to the UK for treatment, and now lives in Birmingham, England.
Amid a standing ovation, Malala told the forum that the Taliban's attack had only made her more resolute.
Latest figures show Pakistan has the second highest number of children out of school in the world.
"Weakness, fear and hopelessness died. Strength, courage and fervour was born," she said. The extremists were, and they are, afraid of books and pens," Malala added. "They are afraid of women."
She continued, "I speak not for myself but for those without a voice."
Source: Legit.ng
