UNESCO event pays tribute to Pakistani teen advocate for girls' rights

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Policy makers, senior UN officials and students have gathered in Paris on Monday to promote the right of all girls to go to school.

'Stand up for Malala—Stand up for girls' right to education!' was the rallying cry for the advocacy event which took place at the headquarters of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

The event paid tribute to Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani teenager who was shot in the head by the Taliban in October for campaigning for girls' right to education.

She continues to recuperate at a medical facility in the United Kingdom.

Malala's struggle highlights what UNESCO described as the "devastating reality" that girls comprise the majority of the 61 million children globally who are out of school.

The agency said harmful practices such as early marriage, gender-based violence and discriminatory laws prevent girls from enrolling in or completing school.

Dianne Penn, United Nations.

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