Malala becomes youngest UN Messenger of Peace
At 19 years, Malala Yousafzai , who is doing her A-levels at a university in UK has been made the youngest Messenger of Peace by UN.
In 2012 Malala escaped death in a near-fatal attack by Taliban for her campaigning of girls’ rights to education . She was on her way back from school in her hometown in Pakistan, when shot by insurgents.
Accepting the accolade in New York, she said: “(Bringing change) starts with us and it should start now.”
“If you want to see your future bright, you have to start working now (and) not wait for anyone else,” she added.
United Nations secretary-general Antonio Guterres described her as a “symbol of perhaps the most important thing in the world – education for all”.
UN Messengers of Peace are selected from the fields of art, literature, science, entertainment, sports or other fields of public life.
Previous messengers include Muhammad Ali, George Clooney, Michael Douglas, Leonardo DiCaprio, Stevie Wonder and Charlize Theron.
