Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani human rights activist, is the youngest Nobel Prize laureate who stood for the education of women and children in her native Swat Valley in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. On 12 July, 2013, she delivered an impassioned speech about gender equality in education at the United Nations headquarters, which was so powerful that the UN soon declared the day, also her birthday, as ‘Malala Day’ to honour the young activist.

Malala not only stood against the banned Taliban terror group, but fought against their harsh interpretation of Islamic law which prohibited girls from attending school in Pakistan. In 2012, she survived the near-fatal attack after a Taliban gunman boarded her school bus and shot her in the head. She then received specialist medical treatment in the UK where she was later granted asylum and the rest is history. Malala Day 2019: Who Is Malala Yousafzai? 11 Interesting Facts About the Nobel Prize Winner on Her 21st Birthday

Known for her powerful speeches and thought-provoking ideas to propagate girl child education in conflict-ridden regions, she has become a voice to fight against global illiteracy and terrorism. Not only she has made landmark speeches at the United Nations, but at several global platforms, which received a standing ovation from all delegates. Here are some inspiring speeches by the most powerful and respected lady from Pakistan.

Malala Yousafzai Speech at United Nations Youth Assembly on July 12, 2013:

Malala's Impassionate Speech to the Canadian Parliament:

Malala, the recipient of Nobel Peace Prize winner of 2014, delivered a powerful speech at Nobel Concert:

In every speech, Malala advocated for picking up books and pens, in order to wage a global struggle against illiteracy, poverty and terrorism. She has not only been an inspiration, but a voice of the million voiceless children who are waiting for a bright peaceful future. In her opinion, education is our most powerful weapons and points out - "One child, one teacher, one pen and one book can change the world."

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 12, 2019 12:03 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).