THE World’s youngest Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Malala Yousafzai from Pakistan, delivered the 21st Nelson Mandela Annual Lecture at the Joburg Theatre, Braamfontein on Tuesday.
Malala, who is an education activist, made headlines having been shot in the head and ostracised in Pakistan, as she stood for human rights and education for girls in her country.
“They can shoot me, but they will not shoot my ideas”, she once uttered during interview with one of the worlds’ top CNN’s reporter Christiane Amanpour.
She said those seeking to fight injustice in the world should seek inspiration from the former South African statesman and anti-apartheid hero.
“It is as students that we first open our eyes to injustice. It is as students that we first ask difficult questions about the world. So when I talk about what I want to share with you today, and what it means to live for a just future.
“I approach this assignment not as a lecturer, but as a student. With Mandela’s legacy in mind, I ask: What injustice is the world overlooking? Where are we allowing inhumanity to be the status quo? The answer for me is very clear and very personal. The oppression of girls and women is in abundance. My family and I know how it feels to live under the Taliban ideology. At 11, I was banned from school. At 15, I was shot and nearly killed,” she said.
Make gender apartheid a crime against humanity, says Malala, who was sharing the podium with strong like-minded women such as former President’s wifeGraça Machel, (MP) Nompendulo Thobile Mkhatshwa and Karima Bennoune, of Michigan, in commemorating Madiba’s 10 years since he’s passing on December 5, 2013.
The poignant Malala also thanked Machel for championing women’s and young girls’ issues in South Africa and across the globe.
“Thank you for fighting for girls and women everywhere and for always championing the voice of young people every day,” she said.
The Nelson Mandela Foundation said like Madiba, Malala has become a global icon who has championed education and human rights, earning her a Nobel Peace Prize at the age of 17.
Head of dialogue and advocacy at the foundation, Sumaya Hendricks, indicated that the lecture will be aimed at commemorating the death of the former ANC leader.
Hendricks said having enlisted strong women to be part of the panel discussion was aimed at ensuring that the event reflects on lessons from the anti-apartheid Struggle and Madiba’s legacy.
“The aim is to use Madiba’s legacy and let it inspire us in a way that shakes our consciousness and spurs us to action,” she said.
Mkatshwa also promised to use her voice in defying injustices faced by women and children in SA and African Continent, she told the packed audience that had the likes of minister of Sport and Culture Zizi Kodwa, the Sisulu’s family, businesspeople and influential figures across all races.
Image (Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Malala Yousafzai, Karima Bennoune, of Michigan and Graça Machel, at the 21st Nelson Mandela Foundation’s commemorative held at Joburg Theatre on Tuesday afternoon).
