Malala Tells UN: Taliban 'Failed To Silence Us'
Nine months after being shot in the head, the schoolgirl marks her 16th birthday by addressing the United Nations in New York.
10:58pm, Friday 12 July 2013
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The Pakistani schoolgirl who was shot in the head by the Taliban has told the United Nations that she will not be silenced by terrorists.
Malala Yousafzai has spent her 16th birthday addressing the UN in New York, where she called on governments across the world to provide compulsory education for every child.
In her first major public speech, Malala had a message for the terrorists who shot her.
"They thought that the bullet would silence us, but they failed," she said.
"The terrorists thought that they would change my aims and stop my ambitions, but nothing changed in life, except this: weakness, fear and hopelessness died.
"Strength, courage and fervour was born."
Young people from 80 different countries were at the UN to hear Malala's speech and to support her education cause.
"Let us pick up our books and our pens," Malala said.
"They are our most powerful weapons. One child, one teacher, one book, and one pen can change the world. Education is the only solution."
Malala leaving Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham
July 12 is being marked as Malala Day, but the 16-year-old said the day is not just for her.
"Today is for every woman, boy and girl raising their voice for human rights," she said in the speech.
Three million people have already signed a petition which Malala has presented to UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon.
Mr Ban said: "In far too many places, students like Malala and their teachers are threatened, assaulted, even killed.
"Through hate-filled actions, extremists have shown what frightens them the most: a girl with a book."
The schoolgirl was shot by the Taliban in 2012 while on her way to school in Swat Valley.
Her remarkable recovery has seen her become a high profile campaigner with her face being recognised all over the world.
She was transferred to Birmingham in the UK and underwent extensive surgery to rebuild her skull at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
The UN event has been organised by former prime minister Gordon Brown, now the UN Special Envoy for Global Education.
"This frail young girl who was seriously injured has become such a powerful symbol not just for the girls' right to education, but for the demand that we do something about it immediately," Mr Brown told CBS News.
"There will be no compromise with any religious extremist who says girls should not go to school or stop going to school at 10."
Youth campaigner Markson Mwanza from Zambia told Sky News: "There are a lot of myths in terms of persons with disabilities...that they can never achieve anything.
"Looking what Malala has said it really brings hope to our lives, it brings hope to Zambia and all of us as people with disabilities."
The Malala Day petition can be found here.
