​ Malala Yousafzai Speech at United Nations Youth Assembly 2013

Transcript
​ https://youtu.be/3rNhZu3ttIU
Malala Yousafzai Speech at United Nations Youth Assembly 2013

In the name of God, the most

beneficent, the most merciful,.
Honorable UN Secretary General,
Mr. Ban Ki-moon, Respected
President General Assembly Vuk
Jeremic, Honorable UN Envoy for
Global Education, Mr. Gordon
Brown, respected elders, and my
dear brothers and sisters. Salaam-Alaikum. Thank you.
​
​ Today it is an honor for me to be speaking again after a long time. Being here
with such honorable people is a great moment in my life and it’s an honour for
me that today I’m wearing the shawl of Benazir Bhutto Shaheed. 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 the staff of the hospitals in Pakistan and the UK and
the UAE government who have helped me to 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 the Respected President General Assembly Vuk Jeremic. I thank
all of them for their leadership that they continue to give. They continue to
inspire all of us to action.
​
​ 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 their rights, but who
are struggling to achieve their goals of peace, education, and equality.
Thousands of people have been killed by the terrorists, and millions have
been injured. I’m just one of them. So here I stand. So here I stand, one girl
among many. I speak, not for myself, but for those without voice can be
heard. Those who have fought for their rights. Their right to live in peace.
Their right to be cheated 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 bullet
would silence us, but they failed. And out of that silence came thousands of
voices. The terrorists thought that they would change my aims and stop my
ambitions, but nothing changed in my life except this: weakness, fear, and
hopelessness died. Strength, fervor, and courage were born.
​
​ I am the same Malala. My ambitions are the same. My hopes are the same
and my dreams are the same. Dear sisters and brothers, I’m not against
anyone. Neither am I here to speak in terms of personal revenge against the
Taliban or any other terrorist group. I’m here to speak up for the right of
education of every child. I want education for the sons and daughters of the
Taliban and all the terrorists and extremists. 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 learned 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 learned from Gandhi Jee,
Bacha Khan, and Mother Teresa. And this is the forgiveness that I have
learned from my father and from my mother. This is what my soul is telling
me. Be peaceful, and love everyone. Dear sisters and brothers, we realize
the importance of light when we see darkness. We realize the importance
of our voice when we are silenced. In the same way, when we were in
Swat, the north of Pakistan, we realized the importance of pens and books
when we saw the guns. The wise saying, “The pen is mightier than the
 sword," was true. The extremists, were, and they are, afraid of books and
pens, the power of education. 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 students in the recent attack in
Quetta. And that is why they killed female teachers and polio workers in
Khyber Pukhtoon Khwa. That is why they’re blasting schools every day,
because they were and are afraid of change and of the equality that we will
bring into our society.
​
​ I remember 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’d send guns
to the head just because of going to school. The terrorists are misusing the
name of Islam and Pashtun society for their own personal benefits.
​
​ Pakistan is a peace loving democratic country. Pashtuns want education for
their daughters and sons. And Islam is a religion of peace, humanity, and
brotherhood. Islam says it’s not only each child’s right to get an
education; rather, it’s their duty and responsibility. Honorable 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 ways in many parts of the world.
​
​ 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 horrors of extremism for decades. Young girls have to do
domestic child labor and are forced to get married at an 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’m focusing on women’s rights and girls education
because they’re suffering the most. There was a time when women’s social
activists asked men to stand up for their rights, but this time we will do it by
 ourselves. I’m not telling men to step away from speaking for women’s rights,
rather, I’m focusing on women to be independent, to fight for themselves.
​
​ So, dear sisters and brothers, now it’s time to speak up. So today we call
upon world leaders to change their strategic policies in favour of peace and
prosperity. We call upon the world leaders that all peace deals must protect
women’s and children’s rights. An ideal that goes against the rights of women
is unacceptable.
​
​ We call upon all governments to ensure free compulsory education all
over the world for every child. We call upon all the governments to fight
against terrorism and violence and to protect children from brutality and
harm. We call upon the developed nations to support the expansion of
education opportunities for girls in the developing world. We call upon all
the communities to be tolerant. To reject prejudice based on caste, creed,
sect, color, 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 realize 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. No one can stop us. We will speak up for our rights, and we will
bring change to our voice. We believe in the power and the strength of our
words. Our words can change the whole world, because we are all together
united for the cause of education. 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. You must not forget that
millions of children are out of their 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. Let us pick up. Let us pick up
our books and our pens. They are our most powerful weapons. One child, one
teacher, one book, and one pen can change the world. Education is the only
solution. Education first. Thank you.
​
Meanings
1. Beneficent : Kind-hearted
2. Envoy : representative sent on a diplomatic mission
3. Fervor : passion
4. Extremists : Individuals who hold extreme political or religious views
and are willing to use violence or force to achieve their
goals.
5. Conservative : Traditional
6. Deprivation : Lack, absence
7. Resilience : The ability to recover quickly from difficulties or setbacks
8. Advocacy : Public support for a cause

​
​ Main Points
​ 1. Gratitude and Acknowledgment:
○ Malala expresses gratitude towards those who supported her during
her recovery, including God, her family, medical staff, and well-wishers
from around the world.
​ 2. Malala Day as a Symbol of Universal Advocacy:
○ Malala emphasizes that Malala Day represents the voices of all
individuals, especially women and children, who advocate (support) for
their rights globally.
​ 3. Courage and Resilience:
○ Despite being targeted by the Taliban, Malala asserts her unwavering
determination to continue her advocacy (support) for education and
peace.
​ 4. Non-violence and Compassion:
○ Malala forgives her attackers and promotes non-violence, drawing
inspiration from figures like Muhammad, Jesus Christ, Lord Buddha,
Martin Luther King Jr., Nelson Mandela, and Muhammad Ali Jinnah.
​ 5. The Power of Education:
○ Education is portrayed as a transformative force (agent of change) that
can overcome ignorance, poverty, and extremism, empowering
individuals to build a brighter future.
​ 6. Challenges Faced by Women and Children:
○ Malala highlights the barriers to education faced by girls and women,
including violence, discrimination (inequality), and cultural norms.
​
​ 7. Global Responsibility:
○ Malala calls upon world leaders to prioritize education, protect the
rights of women and children, and address issues such as poverty,
injustice, and terrorism.
​ 8. Youth Empowerment:
○ Malala encourages young people to speak up for their rights and
become agents of change in their communities, emphasizing the
importance of unity and togetherness.
​ 9. The Role of Religion and Culture:
○ Malala challenges extremist interpretations of Islam and cultural
practices that oppress women, advocating for a more inclusive and
tolerant society.
​ 10. The Universal Right to Education:
○ Malala asserts that education is not only a fundamental human right
but also a key to achieving peace, prosperity, and equality for all.
​
​ Summary
​ Malala Yousafzai is a brave young girl who stood up for what she believed in.
In 2013, she gave a speech at the United Nations Youth Assembly about the
importance of education and peace.
​ In her speech, Malala thanked many people who supported her during a
difficult time in her life. She talked about how the Taliban shot her because
she wanted to attend school. But instead of giving up, Malala became even
stronger. She spoke not just for herself but for all children who wanted to
learn.
​ Malala believes that education is a powerful force for change. She said that
even though some people are afraid of education, it is important for everyone
to have the chance to learn. Malala wants to make sure that every child, no
matter where they are from, has the opportunity to go to school.
​ Malala also talked about the importance of peace. She said that wars and
conflicts make it hard for children to attend school. She wants world leaders to
work together to ensure every child can learn in a safe and peaceful
environment.
​ Another important message from Malala's speech is about equality. She
believes that everyone, regardless of their gender or background, deserves to
be treated fairly. Malala wants to see a world where women and girls have the
same opportunities as men and boys.
​ In conclusion, Malala Yousafzai's speech at the United Nations Youth
Assembly was a powerful call to action. She reminded us that education is the
key to a brighter future and that peace is essential for children to learn and
grow. Malala's courage and determination inspire us all to stand up for what is
right and work towards a world where every child can fulfil their potential.
​
​ Answer the following questions briefly:.
1. Who is the speaker of the speech?
2. When and where was the speech delivered?
3. What significant event happened to the speaker that she mentions in her
speech?
4. What message does the speaker convey about Malala Day?
5. Who does the speaker say she speaks for in her address?
6. What does the speaker emphasize about the importance of education?
7. How does the speaker express her attitude towards the Taliban?
8. What role does the speaker assign to women in advocating for their rights?
9. According to the speaker, what should world leaders do to ensure peace and
prosperity?
10. What does the speaker consider to be the most powerful weapon for change?

Answer the question in 200 words.

1. What is the main message of Malala Yousafzai's speech at the United Nations
Youth Assembly? How does she inspire others to advocate for education and
peace?
2. Describe Malala's personal experience that she shares in her speech. How
does this experience shape her perspective on the importance of education?
3. How does Malala express forgiveness towards those who harmed her? Why
does she believe that forgiveness and compassion are important values?
4. Discuss Malala's belief that "education is the only solution." Do you agree or
disagree with this statement? Explain your reasoning.
5. What role does Malala assign to youth in promoting social change and
advocating for their rights? How does she encourage young people to make a
difference in their communities?
6. Explore the intricate difficulties that girls and women encounter in their pursuit
of education, as Malala highlighted. What are these barriers, and what
concrete steps can be taken to dismantle them?
7. How does Malala use historical figures and religious teachings to support her
message of non-violence and equality? Provide examples from her speech.
8. Describe the actions that Malala calls upon world leaders to take in order to
support education and protect the rights of women and children. Why does
she believe these actions are important?
9. Reflect on the impact of Malala's activism on global efforts to promote
education and peace. How has she inspired others to join her cause?