It’s been exactly one year since Malala Yousafzai became a global icon and ambassador for female education, surviving an assassination attempt by the Taliban for campaigning for girls’ right to education. And her resistance to the denial of women’s rights hasn’t wavered.
Appearing on US program The Daily Show with Jon Stewart yesterday, 16-year-old Yousafzai gave a heartfelt and candid interview about her advocacy work and why she would continue to fight for the rights of girls and women.
When asked by The Daily Show host, Jon Stewart, how she would respond to a Taliban gunman now, she answered:
“I would tell him how important education is and that I would even want education for your children as well. That’s what I want to tell you, now do what you want”.
Stewart, who was left momentary speechless, responded “I know your father is backstage and he is very proud of you, but do you think he would be mad if I adopted you?’
Yousafzai also explained that her love of education came from the belief that it was a powerful weapon for girls and women.
“We are human beings…we don’t learn the importance of anything until it’s snatched from our hands. When we were stopped from going to school in Pakistan, I realised education is very important. Education is powerful for women. Taliban don’t want women to get an education because with an education women become more powerful.”
Yousafzai was also this week awarded the Sakharov prize, the EU’s annual top Human Rights award. She is also being touted as a potential recipient of the 2013 Nobel Peace Prize, which will be announced in Sweden tonight.
Watch a clip of Malala Yousafzai’s appearance on The Daily Show above.