National

Malala Yousafzai addresses UN on 16th birthday

Jonathan Landay - McClatchy Washington Bureau
APTOPIX UN Malala Education for All
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, left, applauds as the members of the ‘Malala Day’ Youth Assembly wish Malala Yousafzai, center, a happy birthday, Friday, July 12, 2013 at United Nations headquarters. Yousafzai, the Pakistani teenager shot by the Taliban for promoting education for girls, celebrated her 16th birthday on Friday by addressing the United Nations. The U.N. has declared July 12 "Malala Day," to honor the teen who returned to school in March after medical treatment in Britain for injuries suffered in the October attack. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer) AP

Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani schoolgirl who survived a Taliban assassination attempt, marked her 16th birthday on Friday with an impassioned speech to a youth assembly at the United Nations in which she condemned religious extremism, hailed women's rights and called for free education for all children.

This story was originally published July 12, 2013 at 11:22 AM with the headline "Malala Yousafzai addresses UN on 16th birthday."

Get unlimited digital access
#ReadLocal

Try 1 month for $1

CLAIM OFFER