Malala Yousafzai receives Honorary Degree from Ex-Prime Minister in Edinburgh

This morning the Global Citizenship Commission, a joint initiative between former Labour Prime Minister Gordon Brown, NYU and Carnegie Trust UK, gathered in McEwan Hall at Edinburgh University in order to discuss global developments since the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was passed in 1948.

A discussion chaired by former Edinburgh University student The Right Honourable Gordon Brown. In his opening speech he spoke of all the values he learnt from studying here, including rationality, but joked that as soon as he entered politics he had to forget all of these worthwhile values.  Good to know his education here was so worthwhile.

Malala raises her arm in celebration as she receives her Honorary Degree

The special guest and most anticipated part of the event was Malala Yousafzai. A sixteen year old school girl who was shot in the head by the Taliban a year ago for standing up for her strong views on all girls having the right to an education. Arguably one of the most influential people in the world currently, in the running for a Nobel Prize and now holds an Honorary Master of Arts Degree from Edinburgh University.

On 9th October 2012 Malala was shot by the Taliban and brought to Britain for treatment

She was joined by school friends Kainat Riaz and Shazia Ramzan, who were also injured in the attack on Malala, her father Ziauddin and Dr Fiona Reynolds who was part of the team who worked to save her life in Birmingham. All were greeted with thunderous applause and a standing ovation.

She was joined on stage by her father, two school friends and one of her doctors

She spoke with the confidence, assertiveness and wisdom well beyond her years, these charactistics perfectly suit her future aspirations to become a politician. Her message was clear: “Educate girls, empower them.” Makes you think twice when complaining about 9am lectures.