A voice for human rights, women's rights, the right for education, peace and dialogue: Malala

People round the world were shocked when a cowardly Taliban "fighter" tried to kill a 14 years old Pakistani girl who was advocating the right of girls for education. She was seriously wounded but fortunately recovered in a British hospital and is still devoted to her noble fight.

Among those people who wanted to support Malala's fight for human and girls' rights, for the right to education, for peace and for dialogue, were students of the Megatrend International University Vienna coming from more than 30 nations who wrote to parliamentarians of their home countries proposing the nomination of Malala for the 2013 Peace Nobel Prize. The result was overwhelming, dozens of parliamentarians nominated Malala Yousufzai who is now "competing" with several other nominees. Among them are also other human rights activists such as the Belorussian Ales Belyatski,  currently behind bars, who is of course a dignified nominee too and I appreciate his battle for democracy and human rights in the last dictatorship of Europe. He certainly deserves international support which in particular European governments should give him. But Malala's case is extraordinary. A 14 yesrs old girl who dares to oppose cruel terrorists and who became their target and who is committed to continue her fight for a better world has to be awarded.  

A prize to Malala would be timely

“A prize to Malala would not only be timely and fitting with a line of awards to champions of human rights and democracy, but also … would set both children and education on the peace and conflict agenda,” said the head of the Peace Research Institute of Oslo, Kristian Berg Harpviken. 

Who decides?

The decision will be taken by the Norwegian Nobel Committee, composed of five persons elected by the Storting, the Norwegian parliament.

(from left): Geir Lundestad (secretary), Gunnar Stålsett, Berit Reiss-Andersen, Inger-Marie Ytterhorn, Kaci Kullmann Five og Thorbjørn Jagland (leader)

How to support the nomination of Malala?

You may join one of the petitions in favour of Malala's award: 

English petition:http://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/uk-party-leaders-and-foreign-secretary-nominate-malala-for-the-nobel-peace-prize-nobel4malala-2?javascript=false
Canada Petition: https://www.change.org/Malala
German Petition: https://www.change.org/malalaspreis
French petition: http://www.change.org/nobelpourmalala

You may also write letter or an email of support to:
The Norwegian Nobel Institute,
Henrik Ibsens gate 51
0255 OSLO
Fax: (+47) 94 76 11 17
E-mail: [email protected]