Education has been frequently declared as essential in shaping future of peace.

The United Nations, on November 9, 2012 declared the following day, November 10, as 'Malala Day' in honour of Pakistani teenage rights activist Malala Yousafzai, who was shot in the head by the Taliban one month previously, on October 9 2012, for campaigning for girls' education. Taliban ambushed a school bus she was travelling on. The gunman shouted, "Who is Malila?". Malala replied, "I am Malala."  Malala was aged 15. She was miraculously stabilized in local Pakistan hospitals then flown to the UK where she had more delicate surgery in Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham.

In 2014 she was the youngest recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize.

Malala and her family still live in Birmingham. This year, 2020, Malala completed a PPE (Philosophy, Politics and Education) degree at Oxford University. She has also established the Malala Fund to promote education, for girls in particular, in many countries – some of them impoverished. The Malala Fund estimates 150 million girls are deprived of education. Covid-19 has been a factor for about 20 million. "May they never lose sight of their dreams." says Malala.

The then UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon's special envoy for global education, former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, announced November 10 had been declared Malala Day, a global event to show the world that people of all creeds; all sexes, all backgrounds and all countries stand behind Malala.

This is Malala Day. The world can walk in the footsteps of this girl of courage. Malala Yousafzai has become a global symbol of hope, an international symbol of courage, a schoolgirl who has won the hearts of millions through her bravery.

Malala's dream is a Pakistan where she, her friends and future generations of girls could attend school, walk freely into a classroom, learn and reach their full potential.

The UN chief said citizens from across the globe are speaking out.