Department of Public Information • News and Media Division • New York

Outraged by the Shooting in Pakistan of Malala Yousufzai, Secretary-General Calls for Perpetrators of ‘Heinous, Cowardly act’ to Be Swiftly Brought to Justice

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:

The Secretary-General expresses his outrage and strongest condemnation over the shooting of Malala Yousufzai, a 14-year-old girl who has bravely championed the right to education for women and girls in Pakistan, as well as two other girls.  He calls for the perpetrators of this heinous and cowardly act to be swiftly brought to justice.  The Secretary-General, like many around the world, has been deeply moved by Malala Yousufzai’s courageous efforts to promote the fundamental right to education — enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The Secretary-General is hoping for Malala Yousufzai's full and speedy recovery and extends his heartfelt sympathies to her family at this very difficult time.  He similarly expresses his sympathies to the families of the other two girls wounded in this attack.  The Secretary-General also expresses his solidarity with the Government and people of Pakistan in their efforts to confront violent extremism.

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