Advertisement

Malala Yousafzai Wins Nobel Peace Prize

Pakistani schoolgirl Malala Yousafzai has won the Nobel Peace Prize for her championing of girls' education rights.

She shares the prize with anti-child slavery activist Kailash Satyarthi.

The Nobel committee praised them "for their struggle against the suppression of children and young people and for the right of all children to education".

Malala was shot in the head and neck when a gunman got on to her school bus and tried to kill her in Pakistan in October 2012.

She was attacked for criticising the Taliban over its interpretation of Islam, which limits girls' access to education.

The 17-year-old was flown to Birmingham for life-saving treatment and now lives in the city with her mother, father and two brothers.

Her campaigning has included addressing the United Nations and meeting President Barack Obama to ask him to end drone strikes.

In an emotive UN speech last year, the teenager said: "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 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."

Malala was also one of the front runners for last year's award.

Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif congratulated the teenager and called her the "pride" of his country.

"She has made her countrymen proud," he said.

"Her achievement is unparalleled and unequalled. Girls and boys of the world should take the lead from her struggle and commitment."

Indian campaigner Mr Satyarthi shares this year's prize, with the committee saying his Save The Childhood Movement had campaigned hard "on the grave exploitation of children for financial gain".

His work has led to the rescue of tens of thousands of child slaves after he gave up a career in electrical engineering in 1980.

"It's an honour to all my fellow Indians. I am thankful to all those who have been supporting my striving for more than the last 30 years," said Mr Satyarthi.