Malala Day is annually observed across the globe on 12th July to mark the birthday of Malala Yousafzai, Pakistani activist for female education and the youngest-ever Nobel laureate.
Background:
i.In 2013, then UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon dubbed the 16th birthday of Malala Yousafzai as Malala Day to honour her contributions to ensure education for all.
ii.Supporting the Global Education First Initiative of the UN Secretary-General, the youth representatives from across the globe celebrated the 16th Birthday of Malala as Malala Day to show their support for universal education.
About Malala Yousafzai:
i.Malala Yousafzai was born on 12th July 1997 in Mingora, Pakistan.
ii.At the age of 15, She was shot by the Taliban gunman on 9th October 2012 for advocating girl’s rights to education in Pakistan.
iii.Along with her father Ziauddin Yousafzai she established the Malala Fund, an international, non-profit organization that advocates for girls’ education in 2013.
Awards and Honours:
i.She won the Nobel Prize for Peace in December 2014 and became the youngest-ever Nobel laureate.
ii.In 2017, Canada awarded her an honorary Canadian citizenship and She became the youngest person to address the House of Commons of Canada.
iii.She is also the inaugural recipient of Pakistan’s National Youth Peace Prize and the 2013 Sakharov Prize.
iv.She was the youngest ever United Nations Messenger of Peace (2017).
Malala Funds:
i.The Malala Funds was launched by UNESCO and Pakistan at a high-level event held as part of the celebrations for Human Rights Day.
ii.The Malala Fund’s Education Champion Network invests in educators and activists in developing countries.
