ISLAMABAD: Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai made her long-awaited return to Pakistan on Saturday after more than two years, arriving as a special guest for a two-day global conference in Islamabad focused on girls’ education.
Malala is set to speak at the summit titled “Girls’ Education in Muslim Communities: Challenges and Opportunities,” on Sunday.
This marks Malala’s third visit to her homeland since her medical evacuation to Britain for urgent treatment in October 2012.
“I’m incredibly honored, filled with emotion, and overjoyed to be back in Pakistan,” Malala expressed upon her arrival at the conference in Islamabad.
In 2012, the education activist was targeted by the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) while she was still a schoolgirl, and her returns to her homeland have been rare since that fateful day.
The two-day summit convenes representatives from Muslim-majority nations, where millions of girls remain deprived of education.
“I’ll address the urgent need to safeguard the rights of all girls to attend school and emphasize why leaders must demand accountability from the Taliban for their atrocities against Afghan women and girls,” she shared on the social media platform X.
I am excited to join Muslim leaders from around the world for a critical conference on girls’ education. On Sunday, I will speak about protecting rights for all girls to go to school, and why leaders must hold the Taliban accountable for their crimes against Afghan women & girls. https://t.co/g2ymU4lTOw
— Malala Yousafzai (@Malala) January 9, 2025
Malala rose to global prominence when TTP militants attacked her on a school bus in the remote Swat Valley in 2012, transforming her into a beacon of resilience and education advocacy. After being flown to the United Kingdom, she became an international champion for girls’ education and, at just 17, the youngest Nobel Peace Prize laureate.
Her most recent visit to Pakistan was in 2022, when she and her parents traveled to flood-affected regions to raise awareness about climate change’s devastating impact on South Asia. Malala’s first return to Pakistan was made in March 2018, over five years after the attack.
Meanwhile, Federal Education Minister Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui informed the media that an invitation was extended to the Taliban government in Afghanistan to join this gathering (moot), but Islamabad has yet to receive a reply.
Afghanistan stands alone as the only nation where girls and women are prohibited from accessing schools and universities. Since reclaiming power in 2021, the Afghan Taliban regime in Kabul has enforced stringent regulations, which the United Nations has denounced as “gender apartheid.”
Conversely, Pakistan grapples with a daunting education crisis, with over 26 million children sidelined from school—primarily due to poverty—according to official government statistics, ranking among the highest globally.
Key Themes of the Conference (Girls’ Education in Muslim Communities: Challenges and Opportunities)
The global summit will focus on a wide range of critical themes, aiming to generate actionable solutions and foster collaborations to enhance girls’ education globally. These themes include:
Women’s education from an Islamic perspective
This theme will explore the Islamic perspective on women’s education, emphasizing that it is a fundamental right and duty, supported by Sharia sources. The discussion will reaffirm the importance of providing education to women and girls as an integral part of Islamic teachings, encouraging further investment in educational reforms within the Muslim world.
Girls’ education: obstacles and solutions
Addressing the significant barriers to girls’ education, this theme will identify the challenges impeding access to education, such as cultural norms, economic constraints, and political instability. Solutions and best practices will be discussed, focusing on practical strategies to overcome these obstacles and ensure that girls have equal access to quality education.
Girls’ education in international charters
This theme will examine how the majority Islamic consensus aligns with international charters advocating for girls’ education, such as the Charter of Makkah and the Charter of Building Bridges Between Islamic Schools of Thought. The conference will explore how these frameworks, endorsed by senior Muslim scholars, can be leveraged to challenge opposition to girls’ education and promote moderated interpretations of Islamic teachings that recognize girls’ right to learn.
Information technology and girls’ education: opportunities and prospects
The digital revolution presents both opportunities and challenges for girls’ education. This theme will explore how information technology can be harnessed to overcome barriers to girls’ education, especially in rural or conflict-affected areas. The use of digital tools for learning and educational resources will be highlighted as a way to improve both the quality and accessibility of education for girls.
The role of women in peacemaking
This theme will highlight the significant roles women play in fostering peace and moderation within their communities. It will explore how the education of girls can contribute to positive social change, bridge cultural and religious divides, and promote peaceful coexistence. The summit will also address the unique challenges and opportunities women face in the current global context, reinforcing their pivotal role in conflict resolution and peacemaking efforts.
The conference will conclude with the signing of the Islamabad Declaration, a historic agreement that outlines the collective commitment of participating countries to empower girls through education. The declaration will pave the way for inclusive and sustainable educational reforms and set the stage for future collaborations between Muslim-majority countries to promote educational equity for girls.
