NEW YORK: Malala Yousafzai has been selected as the UN Messenger of Peace by the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. This is the highest honour that is bestowed on a global citizen by the UN chief.
Stephane Dujarric, the UN spokesman, said that Malala will be officially designated on Monday in an official ceremony following which she will hold a meeting with the secretary-general and other youth representatives from around the globe to talk about women’s education.
Malala Yousafzai will focus on the need for all girls worldwide to go to school. Ever since a near-fatal attack on her, Malala has been campaigning for the rights of women to seek education and has been calling on women worldwide to get educated.
“Her courageous activism for girls’ education has already energised so many people around the world,” UN Secretary-General Guterres said in a statement. “Now as our youngest-ever UN Messenger of Peace, Malala can do even more to help create a more just and peaceful world.”
“Even in the face of grave danger, Malala Yousafzai has shown an unwavering commitment to the rights of women, girls and all people,” he added.
Prolific people who have been bestowed with the UN Messenger of Peace title are Hollywood actors Michael Douglas and Leonardo DiCaprio, primatologist Jane Goodall and musicians Daniel Barenboim and Yo-Yo Ma.