Malala Yousafzai · "I don't want to be thought of as the 'girl who was shot by the Taliban' but th..."

Speech at the United Nations Youth Assembly, July 2013 · Checked on 1 March 2026

I don't want to be thought of as the 'girl who was shot by the Taliban' but the 'girl who fought for education'. This is the cause to which I want to devote my life.

Analysis

The official transcript of Malala's United Nations Youth Assembly address on 30 July 2013 includes the line: “I don’t want to be thought of as the ‘girl who was shot by the Taliban’; I want to be thought of as the ‘girl who fought for education.’” Multiple reputable news outlets reproduced the quote verbatim. Therefore the statement accurately reflects what she said.

Background

Malala Yousafzai rose to global prominence after surviving a Taliban assassination attempt in 2012. She addressed the UN on her 16th birthday, using the platform to advocate for universal education and to reshape her public image beyond the shooting incident. The speech has been widely quoted and cited in media and academic discussions on girls' education.

Verdict summary

Malala Yousafzai said those exact words in her July 30, 2013 UN Youth Assembly speech.

Sources consulted

— United Nations Youth Assembly – Full transcript of Malala Yousafzai’s speech, 30 July 2013 (UN website)

— BBC News article “Malala’s UN speech: ‘I am not a martyr but a fighter for education’”, 31 July 2013

— The New York Times, “Malala Yousafzai’s First UN Address: A Call for Education”, 1 August 2013