WEBVTT 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Thank you. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 In the name of God, The Most Beneficent, The Most Merciful. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Honourable UN Secretary General Mr Ban Ki-moon, 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Respected President General Assembly Vuk Jeremic 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Honourable UN envoy for Global education Mr Gordon Brown, 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Respected elders and my dear brothers and sisters, 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Today, it is an honour for me to be speaking again after a long time. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Being here with such honourable people is a great moment in my life. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 And it is honor for me today I wearing a shawl of Benazir Bhutto Shaheed. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 I don't know where to begin my speech. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 I don't know what people would be expecting me to say. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 But first of all, 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 thank you to God for whom we all are equal 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 and thank you to every person who has prayed for my fast recovery and a new life. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 I cannot believe how much love people have shown me. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 I have received thousands of good wish cards and gifts from all over the world. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Thank you to all of them. Thank you to the children whose innocent words encouraged me. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Thank you to my elders whose prayers strengthened me. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 I would like to thank my nurses, doctors 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 and the staff of the hospitals in Pakistan 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 and the UK and the UAE government 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 who have helped me to get better and recover my strength. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 I fully support Mr. Ban Ki-moon the Secretary-General in his Global Education 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 First Initiative and the work of the UN Special Envoy 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Mr. Gordon Brown. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 and respected President General Assembly Vuk Jeremic. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 And I thank all of them for the leadership they continue to give. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 They continue to inspire all of us to action. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Dear brothers and sisters, 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Do remember one thing. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Malala day is not my day. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Today is the day of every woman, 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 every boy and every girl who have raised their voice for their rights. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 There are hundreds of human rights activists 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 and social workers who are not only speaking for their rights, 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 but who are struggling to achieve their goals of peace, education, and equality. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Thousands of people have been killed by the terrorists and millions have been injured. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 I'm just one of them. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 So here I stand 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 So here I stand one girl among many. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 I speak, not for myself, but for those without voice can be heard. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Those who have fought for their rights. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Their right to live in peace. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Their right to be treated with dignity. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Their right to equality of opportunity. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Their right to be educated. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Dear Friends, on the 9th of October 2012, 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 the Taliban shot me on the left side of my forehead. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 They shot my friends, too. They thought that the bullets would silence us. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 But they failed. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Out of that silence came, thousands of voices. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 The terrorists thought that they would change our aims and stop our ambitions. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 But, nothing changed in my life except this. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Weakness, fear, 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 and hopelessness died. Strength, power and courage was born. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 I am the same Malala. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 My ambitions are the same. My hopes are the same. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 and my dreams are the same. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Dear sisters and brothers, 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 I'm not against anyone. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Neither am I here to speak in terms of personal revenge against the Taliban, or any other terrorists group. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 I am here to speak up for the right of education of every child. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 I want education for the sons and the daughters of the Taliban and all the terrorist extremists. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 I do not even hate the Taliban who shot me. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Even if there is a gun in my hand and he stands in front of me. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 I would not shoot him. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 This is the compassion that I have learnt from Muhammad, the prophet of mercy, Jesus christ, and Lord Buddha. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 This is the legacy of change that I have inherited from Martin Luther King, 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Nelson Mandela and Muhammad Ali Jinnah. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 This is the philosophy of non-violence that I have learnt from Gandhi Jee, Bacha Khan, and Mother Teresa. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 And this is the forgiveness that I have learnt from my father and from my mother. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 This is what my soul is telling me, be peaceful and love everyone. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Dear sisters and brothers, 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 we realise the importance of light when we see darkness. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 We realize the importance of our voice when we are silenced. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 In the same way, when we were in Swat, the north of Pakistan, 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 we realised the importance of pens and books when we saw the guns. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 The wise saying, “The pen is mightier than sword" was true. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 The extremists were and are afraid of books and pens. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 The power of education frightens them. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 They are afraid of women. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 The power of the voice of women frightens them. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 And that is why they killed 14 innocent students in the recent attack in Quetta. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 And that is why they killed female teachers and polio workers in Khyber Pukhtoon Khwa. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 That is why they are blasting schools every day. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Because they were and they are afraid of change, afraid of the equality that we will bring into our society. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 I remember that there was a boy in our school who was asked by a journalist, 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 “Why are the Taliban against education?" He answered very simply. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 By pointing to his book he said, “A Talib doesn't know what is written inside this book." 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 They think that God is a tiny, little conservative being who send girls to the hell just because of going to school. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 The terrorists are misusing the name of Islam and Pashtun society for their own personal benefits. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Pakistan is a peace-loving democratic country. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Pashtuns want education for their daughters and sons. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 And Islam is a religion of peace, humanity and brotherhood. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Islam says that it is not only each child's right to get education, rather it is their duty and responsibility. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Honourable Secretary General, 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 peace is necessary for education. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 In many parts of the world especially Pakistan and Afghanistan, terrorism, wars and conflicts stop children to go to their schools. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 We are really tired of these wars. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Women and children are suffering in many ways, many parts of the world. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 In India, innocent and poor children are victims of child labour. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Many schools have been destroyed in Nigeria. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 People in Afghanistan have been affected by the hurdles of extremism for decades. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Young girls have to do domestic child labour and are forced to get married at early age. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Poverty, ignorance, injustice, racism and the deprivation of basic rights 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 are the main problems faced by both men and women. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Dear fellows, today I am focusing on women's rights and girls' education 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 because they are suffering the most. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 There was a time when women social activists asked men to stand up for their rights. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 This time, we will do it by ourselves. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 I am not telling men to step away from speaking for women's rights. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Rather, I am focusing on women to be independent to fight for themselves. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Dear sisters and brothers, now it's time to speak up. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 So today, we call upon the world leaders to change their strategic policies in favour of peace and prosperity. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 We call upon the world leaders that all the peace deals must protect women's and children's rights. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 A deal that goes against the rights of women is unacceptable. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 We call upon all governments to ensure free compulsory education all over the world for every child. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 We call upon all governments to fight against terrorism and violence, 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 to protect children from brutality and harm. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 We call upon the developed nations to support the expansion of educational opportunities for girls in the developing world. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 We call upon all the communities to be tolerant 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 to reject prejudice based on cast, creed, sect, religion or gender. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 To ensure freedom and equality for women so that they can flourish. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 We cannot all succeed when half of us are held back. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 We call upon our sisters around the world to be brave. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 to embrace the strength within themselves and realise their full potential. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Dear brothers and sisters, we want schools and education for every child's bright future. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 We will continue our journey to our destination of peace and education. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 No one can stop us. We will speak for our rights and we will bring change through our voice. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 We must believe in the power and the strength of our words. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Our words can change the whole world. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Because we are all together, united for the cause of education. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 And if we want to achieve our goal, then let us empower ourselves with the weapon of knowledge 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 and let us shield ourselves with unity and togetherness. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Dear brothers and sisters, we must not forget that millions of people are suffering from poverty, 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 injustice and ignorance. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 We must not forget that millions of children are out of the schools. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 We must not forget that our sisters and brothers are waiting for a bright peaceful future. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 So let us wage a global struggle against illiteracy, poverty and terrorism. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Let us pick up our books and pens. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 They are our most powerful weapons. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 One child, one teacher, one book and one pen can change the world. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Education is the only solution. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Education First. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Thank you.