Malala: A beacon of courage and strength
Malala Yousafzai, 16, was attacked by Taliban gunmen last October after she campaigned for girls’ right to go to school without fear in a part of Pakistan where fundamentalists had once imposed Sharia law.
Since the age of 11, Malala had been secretly writing a blog for the BBC which described the struggles faced by girls trying to receive an education under the Taliban. When her identity was uncovered, a Taliban militia boarded her school bus and shot her at point-blank range.
The Tipperary Peace Convention said Malala had been chosen because of her courage, determination, and perseverance, along with the impact she has had on so many across the world. Malala accepted the award last night, giving a speech where she underlined that a “pen and paper” is mightier than “any sword”.
Minister for Trade and Development Joe Costello, a former teacher, spoke of the “the fundamental right to education for every child” and praised Malala’s efforts to achieve access to education for women and girls.
Mr Costello also spoke about the emphasis that Ireland places on promoting education through its international development programme, including “scholarships for girls to attend secondary schools in key partner countries, such as Uganda, Zambia, and Lesotho”.
After the assassination attempt, Malala, from Mingora in the Swat district of Pakistan, was airlifted to Britain and treated at Birmingham’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
She has remained in the UK, where she returned to school in March and continues to campaign for every child’s right to education, including joining a campaign led by Plan Ireland.
Previous recipients of the Tipperary include former South African president Nelson Mandela, former Soviet president Mikhail Gorbachev, and ex-US president Bill Clinton.
Malala is a nominee for this year’s Nobel Peace Prize.
