Malala Yousafzai, who was shot last year on a girls’ school bus by a Taliban gunman in Pakistan’s Swat Valley, will be honoured on Friday at the United Nations as a symbol for education for all children.
On what is her 16th birthday, Malala will address the UN Youth Assembly at the UN headquarters in New York, far from her life in conflict-plagued northern Pakistan, where she was born and grew up.
She survived a grievous head wound on October 9, after being targeted by the Taliban because of her public campaign for the right of all girls to receive education. She was soon flown for further treatment and rehabilitation to Britain.
As her recovery has progressed, Malala has resumed her campaign for universal education.
The UN has designated July 12 each year as Malala Day.
Malala will be introduced by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and British ex-Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who serves as UN special envoy for global education.
Some 500 youth leaders from 85 countries will be on hand to discuss education for all children.