(Image source: NBC)
BY JOHN O'CONNOR
Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani girl shot
by the Taliban last year for championing women's
education rights, is set to commemorate her
16th birthday by speaking before the United
Nations.
Malala was shot in the head on a school bus
last October for her role in promoting women's
rights in Pakistan.
She has become a symbol of hope for children
across the world seeking access to education.
(Via BBC)
According to a statement released by the U.N.,
Malala will speak to more than 500 young leaders
from all over the world during a youth assembly
designed "to accelerate the goal of getting
all children, especially girls, in school
and learning by 2015 ... "
It will be her first speech since being shot
more than nine months ago.
The BBC reports Malala is expected to ...   
" ... call on politicians to take urgent action
to ensure every child has the right to go
to school ... [she] will also present a petition
of more than three million signatures to UN
Secretary General Ban Ki-moon demanding education
for all."
About 57 million children across the world
still do not have access to education, and
about 120 million young people ages 15-24
also lack basic reading and writing skills.
(Via CNN)
Malala has been credited with bringing this
issue of education to global attention.
The New York Times says Malala " ... has won
numerous honors and been nominated for the
Nobel Peace Prize.
News of her progress is assiduously followed
across the world."
Since being shot, Malala has left Pakistan
to continuing her schooling in the United
Kingdom.
In April, she signed a book deal worth more
than $3 million.
