A Pakistani activist for women's rights who survived an assassination attempt by the Taliban traveled to Harvard University on Friday to receive her award as the humanitarian of the year.
16-year-old Malala Yousafzai, an advocate for the education of girls and women, appeared at Harvard University to receive the 2013 Peter J. Gomes Humanitarian Award, the Associated Press reported. President of Harvard Drew Gilpin Faust welcomed Malala, and said she was pleased at their shared passion for education.
Malala was attacked by militants in October 2012 who shot her in the head because of her critical views of the Taliban.
During her speech, Malala spoke wistfully about her home, the Swat Valley, saying that she hopes she can go back to it one day. She described the land as a "paradise" that has been hit with violence and danger in the recent past. Militants frequently bomb schools, and try to keep girls from attending classes by taking the pens right out of their hands. Students responded by shoving their schoolbooks under their clothing so that people couldn't tell they were going to school.
"The so-called Taliban were afraid of women's power and were afraid of the power of education," she said to the hundreds of students, faculty members and supporters who gathered in Harvard's Sanders Theater.
Malala stated that in her region, many kept quiet about the issues occurring in the area.
"Although few people spoke, but the voice for peace and education was powerful," AP reported her as saying.
Malala also detailed her experience after the shooting - waking up in a hospital in the United Kingdom where she received medical treatment after the attack, completely disoriented.
"And when I was in Birmingham, I didn't know where I was, I didn't know where my parents are, I didn't know who has shot me and I had no idea what was happening," she described. "But I thank God that I'm alive."
Chairman of the Norwegian Nobel Peace Prize Committee Thorbjorn Jaglad commended Malala for her bravery in during a special speech at the award ceremony.
"Your courage," Jagland said, "is sending a strong message to women to stand up for their rights, which constitutes a precondition for peace."
