Malala addresses UN

Celebrating her 16th birthday on Friday, which the UN declared as Malala Day, she spoke of child labour in India and the compassion she learnt from Mahatma Gandhi and Mother Teresa United Nations (AP): Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani teenager shot by the Taliban for promoting education for girls, celebrated her 16th birthday on Friday, addressing the United Nations Youth Assembly. The UN has declared July 12 'Malala Day,' and to mark the occasion the teen, who returned to school in March after medical treatment in Britain for injuries suffered in the October attack, will address more than 500 young leaders from around the world at a Youth Assembly. In her speech, she said: " I am the same Malala...Dear sisters and brothers, I am not against anyone. Nor am I here to speak of personal revenge against Taliban. I am here to speak about the right to education of every child." She invoked Mahatma Gandhi and Mother Teresa to drive her point home: "Want education for the Taliban's sons and daughters. This is the compassion I have learnt from Prophet Mohammed, Jesus Christ, Buddha, Martin Luther King Nelson Mandela and Mohammed Ali Jinnah. This is what I have learnt from Mahatma Gandhi and Mother Teresa. This is what I have learnt from my father and my mother. This is what my soul is telling me - be peaceful and love others." In respect of India, she said that : " In India, innocent children are victims of child labour. Many schools have been destroyed in Nigeria. People in Afghanistan are affected by decades of extremism. Women are subjected to domestic labour and child marriage." She called upon all governments to ensure free and compulsory education, to fight against terrorism, and to protect children.