Malala Yousafzai's Speech

Malala Yousafzais speech at the Youth
Takeover of the United Nations

Malala Yousafzai: 'Our books and our pens are the most
powerful weapons'
In the name of God, The Most Beneficent, The Most Merciful.
Honourable UN Secretary General Mr Ban Ki-moon,
Respected President General Assembly Vuk Jeremic
Honourable UN envoy for Global education Mr Gordon Brown,
Respected elders and my dear brothers and sisters;
Today, it is an honour for me to be speaking again after a long time. Being here with such
honourable people is a great moment in my life.
I don't know where to begin my speech. I don't know what people would be expecting me
to say. But first of all, thank you to God for whom we all are equal and thank you to every
person who has prayed for my fast recovery and a new life. I cannot believe how much love
people have shown me. I have received thousands of good wish cards and gifts from all
over the world. Thank you to all of them. Thank you to the children whose innocent words
encouraged me. Thank you to my elders whose prayers strengthened me.
I would like to thank my nurses, doctors and all of the staff of the hospitals in Pakistan and
the UK and the UAE government who have helped me get better and recover my strength. I
fully support Mr Ban Ki-moon the Secretary-General in his Global Education First
Initiative and the work of the UN Special Envoy Mr Gordon Brown. And I thank them
both for the leadership they continue to give. They continue to inspire all of us to action.
"Malala day is not my day. Today is the day of every woman, every boy and every girl who
have raised their voice for their rights."
Education Advocates take their seats at the first ever Youth Takeover of the UN
Education advocates from around the world at the first ever "Youth Takeover"of the UN
Dear brothers and sisters, do remember one thing. Malala day is not my day. Today is the
day of every woman, every boy and every girl who have raised their voice for their rights.
There are hundreds of Human rights activists and social workers who are not only
speaking for human rights, but who are struggling to achieve their goals of education,
peace and equality. Thousands of people have been killed by the terrorists and millions
have been injured. I am just one of them.
So here I stand... one girl among many.
I speak not for myself, but for all girls and boys.
I raise up my voice not so that I can shout, but so that those without a voice can be heard.
Those who have fought for their rights:
Their right to live in peace.
Their right to be treated with dignity.
Their right to equality of opportunity.

Their right to be educated.
Dear Friends, on the 9th of October 2012, the Taliban shot me on the left side of my
forehead. They shot my friends too. They thought that the bullets would silence us. But
they failed. And then, out of that silence came, thousands of voices. The terrorists thought
that they would change our aims and stop our ambitions but nothing changed in my life
except this: Weakness, fear and hopelessness died. Strength, power and courage was born.
I am the same Malala. My ambitions are the same. My hopes are the same. My dreams are
the same.
Dear sisters and brothers, I am not against anyone. Neither am I here to speak in terms of
personal revenge against the Taliban or any other terrorists group. I am here to speak up
for the right of education of every child. I want education for the sons and the daughters of
all the extremists especially the Taliban.
I do not even hate the Talib who shot me. Even if there is a gun in my hand and he stands
in front of me. I would not shoot him. This is the compassion that I have learnt from
Muhammad-the prophet of mercy, Jesus christ and Lord Buddha. This is the legacy of
change that I have inherited from Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela and Muhammad
Ali Jinnah. This is the philosophy of non-violence that I have learnt from Gandhi Jee,
Bacha Khan and Mother Teresa. And this is the forgiveness that I have learnt from my
mother and father. This is what my soul is telling me, be peaceful and love everyone.
Dear sisters and brothers, we realise the importance of light when we see darkness. We
realise the importance of our voice when we are silenced. In the same way, when we were
in Swat, the north of Pakistan, we realised the importance of pens and books when we saw
the guns.
The wise saying, The pen is mightier than sword was true. The extremists are afraid of
books and pens. The power of education frightens them. They are afraid of women. The
power of the voice of women frightens them. And that is why they killed 14 innocent
medical students in the recent attack in Quetta. And that is why they killed many female
teachers and polio workers in Khyber Pukhtoon Khwa and FATA. That is why they are
blasting schools every day. Because they were and they are afraid of change, afraid of the
equality that we will bring into our society.
I remember that there was a boy in our school who was asked by a journalist, Why are the
Taliban against education? He answered very simply. By pointing to his book he said, A
Talib doesn't know what is written inside this book. They think that God is a tiny, little
conservative being who would send girls to the hell just because of going to school. The
terrorists are misusing the name of Islam and Pashtun society for their own personal
benefits. Pakistan is peace-loving democratic country. Pashtuns want education for their
daughters and sons. And Islam is a religion of peace, humanity and brotherhood. Islam
says that it is not only each child's right to get education, rather it is their duty and
responsibility.
Honourable Secretary General, peace is necessary for education. In many parts of the
world especially Pakistan and Afghanistan; terrorism, wars and conflicts stop children to
go to their schools. We are really tired of these wars. Women and children are suffering in
many parts of the world in many ways. In India, innocent and poor children are victims of
child labour. Many schools have been destroyed in Nigeria. People in Afghanistan have
been affected by the hurdles of extremism for decades. Young girls have to do domestic
child labour and are forced to get married at early age. Poverty, ignorance, injustice, racism
and the deprivation of basic rights are the main problems faced by both men and women.
Dear fellows, today I am focusing on women's rights and girls' education because they are
suffering the most. There was a time when women social activists asked men to stand up
for their rights. But, this time, we will do it by ourselves. I am not telling men to step away
from speaking for women's rights rather I am focusing on women to be independent to
fight for themselves.
Dear sisters and brothers, now it's time to speak up.
Youth education advocates from around the world in the UN Chamber
Education advocates from around the world at the first ever "Youth Takeover"of the UN
So today, we call upon the world leaders to change their strategic policies in favour of
peace and prosperity.
We call upon the world leaders that all the peace deals must protect women and children's
rights. A deal that goes against the dignity of women and their rights is unacceptable.
We call upon all governments to ensure free compulsory education for every child all over
the world.
We call upon all governments to fight against terrorism and violence, to protect children
from brutality and harm.
We call upon the developed nations to support the expansion of educational opportunities
for girls in the developing world.
We call upon all communities to be tolerant to reject prejudice based on cast, creed, sect,
religion or gender. To ensure freedom and equality for women so that they can flourish.
We cannot all succeed when half of us are held back.
We call upon our sisters around the world to be brave to embrace the strength within
themselves and realise their full potential.
Dear brothers and sisters, we want schools and education for every child's bright future.
We will continue our journey to our destination of peace and education for everyone. No
one can stop us. We will speak for our rights and we will bring change through our voice.
We must believe in the power and the strength of our words. Our words can change the
world.
Because we are all together, united for the cause of education. And if we want to achieve
our goal, then let us empower ourselves with the weapon of knowledge and let us shield
ourselves with unity and togetherness.
Dear brothers and sisters, we must not forget that millions of people are suffering from
poverty, injustice and ignorance. We must not forget that millions of children are out of
schools. We must not forget that our sisters and brothers are waiting for a bright peaceful
future.
So let us wage a global struggle against illiteracy, poverty and terrorism and let us pick up
our books and pens. They are our most powerful weapons.
"One child, one teacher, one pen and one book can change the world."
Education is the only solution. Education First.

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Malala Yousafzais speech at the Youth

Takeover of the United Nations

Their right to equality of opportunity.

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