The Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau announced on 3 April 2017 that the youngest Nobel laureate, Malala Yousafzai, will be addressing the country’s parliament on 12 April 2017.
The young Pakistani activist will also be receiving her honorary Canadian citizenship, which was bestowed upon her in 2014.
Key Points
•Canadian Prime Minister announced that 19-year-old Yousafzai will become the youngest person to address the country’s Parliament.
•Trudeau also added that he would be discussing empowerment of girls through education with Yousafzai on the occasion.
•Yousafzai was targeted for her advocacy for women’s education at the age of 15 when she was shot in the head by Taliban militants while returning from school.
•She won world acclaim with her campaign for female education and human rights advocacy.
•She was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014.
•She is one of just six people to receive honorary Canadian citizenship.
•She was bestowed with the honour by the then Prime Minister Stephen Harper to recognise her brave fight for the rights of women and girls to go to school.
Background
Canada had previously planned to honour the young activist at an event in Toronto on 22 October 2014. The event however, was cancelled after a gunman fatally shot and killed Canadian soldier Nathan Cirillo who was on ceremonial sentry duty at the National War Memorial and then stormed into the nearby Centre Block parliament building where members of Canadian Parliament were attending a meeting.
In response to the invitation by the Canadian Prime Minister’s office, Malala stated that the people of Canada are leading the world in their response to the refugee crisis and she is honoured by Parliament's invitation and looks forward to visiting this great nation of heroes.
Current Affairs 4th April, 2017 Current Affairs One Liners 3rd April, 2017 Current Affairs Round Up Bullet Points, March, 2017
Join The Discussion