Malala Yousafzai, The Young Human Rights Defender
Malala Yousafzai received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014 when she was 17 years old. He is the youngest person in history to access this award. This young civil rights activist and advocate stands out for her committed fight for the right to education for girls around the world .
Malala was born in Mingora, Pakistan, in 1997 and is the oldest of three siblings. Her father, a teacher by profession, decided to give his daughter the same educational opportunities as any male child in Pakistan. To do this, he enrolled her in school, making her right to education visible. It was precisely he who encouraged Malala to move towards political activism, since the young woman originally wanted to dedicate herself to medicine.
How Malala started fighting for human rights
In 2007, the Taliban seized control of the Swat Valley and prohibited girls from continuing their education. It is at this time that Malala, under the pseudonym Gul Makai, begins to write a blog for the BBC about her life under this regime . In this virtual space, he denounced the discrimination suffered by girls and women at the hands of this violent group.
The atrocities to which the civilian population continues to be subjected are manifold and demonstrate total disregard for human life. Large numbers of children, young and old have been attacked, massacred or murdered, although Afghan women remain the main victims of this type of injustice based on violence, degradation and inequality.
“They began to spread the message that women did not have the same rights and freedoms. For me it was unacceptable; and that situation was what motivated me to raise my voice. No girl could go to school. I wanted to be a doctor, earn my own money, and make my own decisions. I remember that day I woke up and started crying, ”Malala said in an interview on the subject.
Malala Yousafzai, human rights defender
On October 9, 2012, Malala was the victim of an attack in Mingora, Pakistan . She was returning home on the school bus when two Taliban got on and, calling her name out, shot her with a rifle, hitting her in the skull and neck. The spokesman for the terrorist group, upon learning that she had not died, stated that they would try to kill her again and claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement.
Malala was threatened with death by terrorists for reporting on her blog the atrocities taking place in her region, the Swat Valley in northern Pakistan. Above all, she spoke of the pain caused by the prohibition of female education and the destruction of most of the schools.
After surviving the attack, the young woman was admitted to a hospital near the capital, Islamabad. There they extracted the bullet that was lodged in the neck, near the spinal cord. She was later transferred to the UK, where she underwent multiple surgeries and months of rehabilitation .
What happened after the accident
Demonstrations in support of the young woman began to take place all over the world and immediately aroused international condemnation from most of the political leaders .
Malala was discharged after having a hearing aid implanted in her left ear and a titanium plate in her skull. After that, and to the amazement of the entire world, he returned to fight for human rights .
Her activism and fighting spirit continued unstoppably, making Malala a hero and spokesperson for girls fighting for the right to education.
“We are all Malala”, worldwide recognition
Malala is a unique young woman, a woman with a wisdom rare in young women her age, sensitive and focused. In his life, he has experienced the worst and the best that human beings can offer.
The winner of the Nobel Peace Prize has received global love and support from politicians, human rights activists and citizens in general. For this reason, it has been worthy of several recognitions in different countries.
This incredible young woman is an inspiration for all those who want to fight for a more just world . The voice of women like Malala is the hope to silence the guns and promote sustainable change in the world.
