In solidarity with Malala

EDITORIAL: DAILY TIMES

Exactly one month after the Pakistani Taliban showed the whole world just how brutal they could be by shooting a 15-year-old girl for the crime of wanting to obtain an education, the United Nations declared November 10 as ‘Malala Day’ — a mark of global solidarity for the girl who stood up against monsters when adults were too scared to. The UN has taken this wonderful step to let the world — and especially Pakistan — know that Malala’s efforts have not been in vain, and that her spirit and cause should be championed by the world at large. Former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who is also the UN ambassador for global education, has presented the Pakistani government with a petition signed by one million people to show their support for Malala Yousafzai. Mr Brown has also informed the Pakistani government that a foundation, named the Malala Foundation, has been set up to honour the young girl and to campaign for the 32 million girls around the world who are deprived of education — what Malala wanted to do before she was cruelly shot in the head. In addition to all these heart-warming accolades, campaigners in the UK are pushing to have Malala nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize — so far, 100,000 people have signed the petition and the momentum is only increasing. This is not just support; it is across-the-board solidarity for Malala Yousafzai who has become a universal symbol of resistance against Taliban ideology. While the world rejoiced to celebrate this young warrior, schoolgirls in Malala’s hometown of Mingora, Swat were unable to pay tribute in public because of fears related to Taliban retaliation. Due to looming threats, Malala’s class fellows could not hold any special service for their injured champion — instead they held a candlelight vigil and prayed for her safety. The two young girls who were injured during the attempted murder of Malala Yousafzai still look over their shoulder in fear as they do not feel safe. They may be haunted by the memory of the shooting but they have not backed down from wanting an education and risking their lives to get it. No matter where in the world, Malala has been honoured and prayed for on November 10 by everyone who has a heart. If there is one thing sure to make the militants see red, it must be the fact that they have made a hero out of their innocent target. To completely realise the uphill task Malala was trying to tackle one only needs to see the statistics. UNESCO’s Education For All Global Monitoring Report (EFAGMR) has ranked Pakistan as being in the bottom 10 countries, the world over, when it comes to female education. According to the report 62 percent of girls in Pakistan, between the ages of seven and 15, have never seen the inside of a school. These are appalling figures and only serve to further elaborate Malala’s struggle. The fact that Malala is now in the spotlight must be used to further the cause of female education and emancipation in this country. The nation must wake up from its slumber and actually see how young girls are being denied their fundamental right to education and enlightenment. It is paramount that the government join hands with all those nations that support Malala’s cause by concentrating on the education of this country’s youth. While the president has announced that a cash stipend will be provided to three million families (with aid from the World Bank) to ensure their children are educated, one hopes to see this fervour remain after the Malala affair tones down. The Taliban are counting on us forgetting this young angel soon — let us not grant them that wish.