ISLAMABAD/OSLO: Malala Yousufzai, education activist and youngest winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, vowed on Tuesday to work for protection of children’s rights with even more vigour and dedication.

Addressing a ceremony held in honour of this year’s winners of the prize in Oslo, Norway, she expressed her resolve to continue struggling for the rights of children. “It is a great honour for me to struggle for children’s rights not only in Pakistan but across the world... now they should stand up for their rights,” she said.

Malala said the Taliban did not allow girls to go to school and get educated. They damaged educational institutions and carried out suicide attacks to establish their writ.

“At the time, I decided to speak up for my rights and others were thinking that things will change on their own,” she said. “If you take an appropriate step, you will succeed in bringing about change.”

She said she was a true follower of Islamic teachings, and added that Islam was “all about getting knowledge and education”.

Meanwhile, this year’s joint winners of the prize — Malala and Kailash Satyarthi of India — stressed the importance of uniting people across borders and religions by educating children and freeing them from poverty.

Malala said it was “not only the right but the duty of children” to be educated.

Mr Satyarthi said that even if a single child was denied education “we cannot say we are enlightened”. The two rights activists were speaking to reporters in the Norwegian capital.

Published in Dawn, December 10th, 2014