Secretary-General, in Video Message, Calls Nobel Laureate Malala Yousafzai ‘One of the Most Admired Activists of Our Time’, as Teen Receives Liberty Medal

Following is the text of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s video message to a ceremony marking the awarding of the Liberty Medal to Malala Yousafzai in Philadelphia today:

I congratulate Malala Yousafzai on being awarded the Liberty Medal given by the Constitution Center.  With this Liberty Medal and this year’s Nobel Prize for Peace, Malala has become one of the most admired activists of our time.

Malala is a brave and gentle champion of peace who through the simple act of going to school became a global teacher.  She said one pen can change the world.  With great courage, she has shown what terrorists fear most: a girl with a book.

The United Nations will continue to stand with her against extremism and for the right of girls everywhere, to learn and live freely and make the most of their tremendous potential.  Malala is a daughter of the United Nations — and a hero to the world.

Thank you, Malala, for supporting United Nations causes and embodying United Nations ideals.  Congratulations again on this well-deserved recognition.