Malala Yousafzai, the youngest person to receive the Nobel Peace Prize and the Pakistani activist for women’s education who set up Malala fund, will be a key speaker at second edition of “Investing in the Future” (IFFMENA) conference. The IFFMENA, which is co-organised by The Big Heart Foundation (TBHF), a Sharjah-based international humanitarian foundation devoted to helping the refugees and people in need around the world. The UN Women will be held on 19-20 October under the theme “Building the Resilience of Women and Girls in the Arab Region”.
The IFFMENA conference, which will be held under the patronage of his Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Mohammad Al-Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah and his wife her Highness Sheikha Jawaher Bint Mohammed Al-Qasimi, Chairperson of TBHF and Chairperson of the NAMA Women Advancement Establishment (NAMA). They will bring together an elite group of activists, advocates of gender equality, government officials, representatives of international and non-governmental organisations and a number of academics, experts and media personalities in the region.
“We have a firm belief in girls’ right to education. The UAE, since its inception, has always stood up for this right out of its wise leadership’s belief that knowledge contributes to strengthening women’s capacities and gives them greater ability to effectively participate in building their society. Educated women are better able to give, help their families and nations to develop and achieve stability and progress.” Said Mariam Al-Hammadi, Director of Salam Ya Seghar a campaign initiated by TBHF.
Al Hammadi added, «Malala is a role model for girls in her age for her determination in advocating girls’ right to education and her fight against the constraints that prevent women from leaving an imprint on their society and nation.”
It is worth noting that Malala is known for advocating human rights, especially the right to education, and women’s rights in Swat Valley, Khyber Paktunkhwa province, northwest Pakistan where the Taliban had banned all girls from attending schools.
