Secretary-General to Designate Malala Yousafzai as United Nations Messenger of Peace with Special Focus on Girls’ Education
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres will designate Malala Yousafzai, the youngest-ever Nobel Peace Prize laureate, as a United Nations Messenger of Peace with a special focus on girls’ education.
The designation ceremony will be held on 10 April in the Trusteeship Council Chamber at United Nations Headquarters in New York, beginning at 3:15 p.m. It will be followed by a conversation involving the Secretary-General, Ms. Yousafzai and youth representatives around the world on the theme of girls’ education.
“Even in the face of grave danger, Malala Yousafzai has shown an unwavering commitment to the rights of women, girls and all people,” the Secretary-General said on his selection of Ms. Yousafzai for the designation. “Her courageous activism for girls’ education has already energized so many people around the world,” he added. “Now as our youngest-ever UN Messenger of Peace, Malala can do even more to help create a more just and peaceful world.”
Born on 12 July 1997 in Pakistan’s Swat Valley, Ms. Yousafzai became an international symbol of the fight for girls’ education after being shot on 9 October 2012 for opposing Taliban restrictions on female education. She survived the attack and became an advocate for the millions of girls denied formal education around the world.
In 2013, Ms. Yousafzai and her father, Ziauddin Yousafzai, co-founded Malala Fund to bring awareness to the social and economic impact of girls’ education, and to empower girls to demand change. Ms. Yousafzai became the youngest-ever Nobel Peace Prize laureate on 10 December 2014.
Ms. Yousafzai is the first Messenger of Peace designated by Secretary-General Guterres. United Nations Messengers of Peace are widely recognized public figures, who help to raise worldwide awareness of the Organization’s ideals and activities. Through their public appearances, contacts with the international media and humanitarian work, they expand public understanding of how the United Nations helps to improve the lives of people everywhere.
Malala Fund
Founded by Malala Yousafzai, the Malala Fund is working for a world in which all girls can learn and lead without fear. Learn more at malala.org.
Please note that the event will be webcast on webtv.un.org and streamed live on facebook.com/UNWebTV and youtube.com/unitednations.
Further information about United Nations Messengers of Peace is available at outreach.un.org/mop.
For media inquiries about United Nations Messengers of Peace, please contact Jeffrey Brez, tel.: + 1 212 963 8070, e-mail: brez@un.org, or Jon Herbertsson, tel.: + 1 212 963 7346, e-mail: herbertsson@un.org.
For media inquiries about Malala Fund, please contact Taylor Royle, e-mail: taylor@malalafund.org.
For United Nations media accreditation, please visit www.un.org/malu or contact Marija Rokuiziene, tel. + 1 212 963 9273, e-mail: malu@un.org.