Malala Yousafzai

Wednesday 10 October 2012

   The twenty sixth article of The Universal Declaration of the Human Rights says that: “Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the elementary and fundamental stages. Elementary education shall be compulsory. Technical and professional education shall be made generally available and higher education shall be equally accessible to all on the basis of merit.” This article of The Universal Declaration of the Human Rights is fulfilled in most of the developed countries but there are still some people who are risking their life in order to be able to go to school.

   Malala Yousafzai is one of those people. She was born in Pakistan in the year of 1998. She is now 14 years old and Tuesday she was shot in the head and in the neck by a Taliban. Ihsanullah Ihsan claimed responsibility for the attack saying that she “is the symbol of the infidels and obscenity”.

   I chose to write about this subject because I consider that Malala is an excellent role model and a great inspiration. While some kids in Portugal were mumbling about having to wake up early to go to school she was writing a blog for BBC reporting her daily life and defending the young women’s rights. It is hard to believe that a girl with 14 years old could be as brave and bold as Malala is. She really is a rare case and she makes me wonder: How many children are forbidden to go to school? How many women are suffering from domestic violence? How many girls see their sexual freedom being taken away every day? 

   Today Malala is still being kept in the Intensive Care Unit and soon she will be moved out of Pakistan for further treatment. I wish her the best luck and I hope that this event will help some people realize how lucky they are. 

DIARY OF A PAKISTANI SCHOOLGIRL

Diana Barros