Malala Yousafzai named UN Messenger of Peace

NEW YORK (92 News) – United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has on Tuesday named 19-year-old Malala Yousafzai as the youngest Messenger of Peace, the highest honor given to a citizen by the UN. Yousafzai received the award to promote girls' education.

At a ceremony at the United Nations headquarters in New York, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres gave Malala Yousafzai the top award, saying he was inspired by her "unwavering commitment to peace" and "resolve to foster a better world."

"You are not only a hero but you are a very committed and generous person," Guterres said, highlighting Yousafzai's determination to bring equality to all.

Guterres also cited Yousafzai's "courageous defense" of the rights of all people, including women and girls, to education and equality, and honored her for showing "an unwavering dedication to peace" even in the face of great danger, and her desire to foster a better world.

At 19, Yousafzai is the youngest Messenger of Peace, the highest honor given by the United Nations for an initial period of two years.