Speaking for children: Malala Yousafzai, who was shot in the head by the Taliban, holds hands with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. Photo: Reuters

Malala Yousafzai says she will not be silenced by terrorist threats, in an address to the United Nations on her 16th birthday that was her first public speech since being shot by the Taliban.


Malala, who has been recovering in Britain, delivered her address in New York in front of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to an auditorium packed with 1000 students from around the world.

Her parents watched as she assured her audience that she was ''the same Malala''.

Wearing a loose-fitting pink shawl that had belonged to assassinated former Pakistani leader Benazir Bhutto, she continued: ''I am not against anyone. Nor am I here to speak against the Taliban or any other terrorist group. I am here to speak up for the right to education of every child.''


''The extremists were afraid of education,'' she said. ''That is why they're blasting schools every day. Because they're afraid of progress, afraid of change.

''If we want to achieve our goals, let us empower ourselves with a weapon of knowledge and shield ourselves with unity and togetherness.''

During a series of standing ovations, she said the attempt on her life had only made her more resolute.

''They thought that the bullet would silence us but they failed,'' she said.''The terrorists thought that they would change my aims and stop my ambitions but nothing changed in life, except this: weakness, fear and hopelessness died. Strength, courage and fervour was born.''

The event, designated by the UN as Malala Day, was organised by Gordon Brown, the former British prime minister who is now the UN special envoy for global education.

Calling for ''a global struggle against illiteracy, poverty and terrorism'', Malala presented Mr Ban with a petition in support of 57 million children who can't go to school.

Telegraph, London; AFP