Malala Urges U.S. Congress, UN, World Bank To Support Education

Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai, who survived an assassination attempt by the Taliban, made the rounds on Capitol Hill on June 23 urging support for universal, free education.

With her father Ziauddin Yousafzai at her side, the 17-year-old Pakistani urged lawmakers to boost funding for girls' secondary education through first lady Michelle Obama’s initiative, Let Girls Learn.

"It is time that a bold and clear commitment is made by the [United States] to increase funding and support governments around the world to provide 12 years of free primary and secondary education for everyone by 2030," said Malala, who survived a severe gunshot wound to the head for her support of girls' schools in Pakistan.

Earlier, on June 22, Malala urged the World Bank and United Nations to include a commitment to 12-year free education for all children in their new millenium goals for the next 15 years.

"It is very important that we raise our voices to speak out for girls deprived of a secondary education," Malala said after meeting with World Bank President Jim Yong Kim.