Malala gets top Amnesty award

London (PTI): Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani teen activist shot in the head last year by the Taliban for campaigning for girls' education, has received the highest honour conferred by rights group Amnesty International. Malala received the 2013 Ambassador of Conscience Award along with American singer and human rights activist Harry Belafonte at a ceremony in Dublin.

"I've written a short speech, because I had to finish my homework," the 16-year-old schoolgirl told the gathering at Mansion House in Dublin. "With this powerful weapon of knowledge and education, we can fight against wars, terrorism, child labour and inequality. The only tools that are needed are a pen and a book to get us on our way to an enlightened future for one and all," she said, after receiving the award from Irish rock singer and human rights activist Bono.

Referring to children suffering due to war and child trafficking, she said, "You may be asking yourselves- 'what is the solution?' I believe the only solution is education, education, education."Malala, determined not to miss even a day of school, flew back to Birmingham, where she now lives with her family, soon after the ceremony. Malala was shot in the head by the Taliban on a school bus last October, an attack that drew worldwide condemnation.