Malala Yousafzai – Photo Courtesy EPA
The 2012 Tipperary International Peace Award has been awarded, as many expected, to Pakistani student and youth activist Malala Yousafzai.
In a statement today, the Tipperary Peace Convention stated that in choosing this years winner it was forced to recognised the courage, impact, determination and perseverance, this young 15 year old student has had on so many people across the world, making her a symbol of resistance against the Taliban’s efforts to deprive girls of an education in her country.
Despite her youth, Miss Yousafzai has continuously campaigned for the rights of girls to receive an education and came to public attention back in 2009 by writing an on-line diary, which spoke about life under Taliban militants, who had taken control of the Swat Valley, committing crimes & banning student rights to education. She received death threats over the content of her diary, but in 2012 stated it was well worth the risk.
However, last October, she was shot in the head by a member of the Pakistani Taliban, as a bus she and her fellow students were travelling on, came under fire in the city of Mingora. The reason given by the Taliban for her attempted assassination was that she was “a western-minded girl.”
Announcing the award today the Tipperary Peace Convention have stated; “Malala’s courage has proved to be an inspiration around the globe. The right to education is denied to 61 million children of primary school age around the world and the hopes of these children are represented by the courage, determination and by the voice of Malala Yousafzai. The Taliban tried and failed to silence her and have instead amplified her voice to the world.”
Last month Miss Yousafzai, who is currently recuperating at a Birmingham hospital, was named “Teenager of the Year,” by The Times.
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