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THE announcement of this year’s joint Nobel Peace Prize winner, Malala Yousafzai, is a huge recognition of her brave campaigning for girls’ education worldwide, says child rights organisation Plan International.
The prize announced today comes just one day before the third annual International Day of the Girl Child and comes just two years after teenage campaigner Malala was shot by the Taliban on her way to school for her outspoken and pioneering championing of girls’ right to education.
Malala’s story has helped highlight the difficulties that the many ‘other Malalas’ face when it comes to receiving an education, and she has proved an inspiration to the youth whom Plan supports worldwide.
Humaira, 18, from Pakistan, a tutor from a Plan-supported school, said:
“Malala is a source of encouragement for all of us, as she put her life in danger. The bravery of Malala has made us realise the importance of education and she has given us the courage to raise our voice for exercising it as a basic right, rather than screaming in fear.”
Globally, it is estimated that 65 million girls are still out of school, with one in five adolescent girls around the world denied an education by the daily realities of poverty, discrimination and violence, while disasters and emergencies can exacerbate these existing rights violations.
Through its Because I am a Girl campaign, Plan is calling upon nations to urgently prioritise quality education for girls as an essential factor in tackling crippling poverty. The charity released its annual report looking at the state of the world’s girls this week with the theme this year of pathways to power and creating sustainable change for girls.
Plan hopes that Malala’s story will serve as a wake-up call to governments across the world and is encouraging people to support girls’ education just as Malala is doing.
Freida Pinto, who is a Plan ambassador for the charity’s Because I Am A Girl campaign, said:
“Malala hasn’t just believed in education for girls just now or after the incident took place. She’s always been doing this, which is why it comes from the heart and she truly believes in it and she truly believes that girls can, once their potential is unleashed, they can truly change the world and that’s why she’s such an inspiration.”
“She’s got such a strong, supportive father and that’s another reason why she’s such an inspiration and, we need fathers of the world to see this too. There is a father here who is supporting his daughter in spite of what she’s been through and in spite of the danger she faces.”
“I am Malala. Yes, of course I am Malala. I don’t think I have her kind of strength yet, but I look to her and hope to have her kind of strength and I really do believe that this is a very important time in the world right now where we have to recognise that girls also can’t be left behind. We are going to have serious issues in the world and the consequences are going to be terrible if we leave girls behind.”
Nigel Chapman, CEO of Plan International, said:
“Malala’s story has struck a chord with millions of people and she has become a beacon of inspiration to millions. This is an extraordinary, courageous young woman who, when faced with death, refused to give up and refused to be silenced and we congratulate her on winning this year’s Nobel Peace Prize.
“Malala is a true heroine to us and all the other young campaigners out there. Together, we must ensure that every girl and boy is able to take their rightful place in the classroom and start their personal journeys to learning and development.”
Plan’s CEO Nigel Chapman is available for interviews. For further details please contact:
Davinder Kumar (in New York): Davinder.Kumar@plan-international.org or +44 7739326164
Angela Singh (in UK): on angela.singh@plan-international.org or +44 (0) 1483 733 337
