Malala Yousafzai attended the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) where she met world leaders to promote her advocacy of providing quality education to girls around the world.
The 20-year-old Pakistani expressed gratitude to actors and personalities who have lent their star power to forward U.N. goals.
Yousafzai met “Game of Thrones” actor Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, who is a United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Goodwill Ambassador on climate change and gender equality.
Thank you @nikolajcw for your work and for hosting an honest conversation about violence against women and girls. #UNGA17 pic.twitter.com/YH0M4SE8qO
— Malala (@Malala) September 20, 2017
The education activist thanked him “for hosting an honest conversation about violence against women and girls.”
“It was such an honour and inspiration for me and my daughters to meet you and your father,” the actor said in return.
Both she and Indian actress and beauty queen Priyanka Chopra were starstruck to meet one another:
Can’t believe I met @priyankachopra! 🙈 #UNGA2017 pic.twitter.com/xo44LLm0T2
— Malala (@Malala) September 20, 2017
Chopra, who champions girls’ education, said to Yousafzai, “I can’t believe I met you! You’re just a young girl with so much heart and such achievements. So proud.”
Oh @Malala no words will be enough…I can’t believe I..met..U!!You’re just a young girl with so much heart..and such achievements.so proud. https://t.co/0S4IlkTNJ6
— PRIYANKA (@priyankachopra) September 20, 2017
The Nobel Peace Prize winner was also able to meet world leaders to rally them to her cause. These included France’s president Emmanuel Macron, Norway’s prime minister Erna Solberg, Netherlands’ prime minister Mark Rutte, her country’s prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Afghanistan’s president Ashraf Ghani and Argentina’s vice president Gabriela Michetti.
President @EmmanuelMacron, Madame Macron and I had a great discussion about girls’ education & how #France can help. We need his leadership! pic.twitter.com/nujploaA9n
— Malala (@Malala) September 20, 2017
Yousafzai has been vocal about urging girls to attend school despite obstacles, particularly after the Taliban in her hometown banned it. She was 15 years old when the militant group attacked her with gunshots. She has since continued her advocacy while residing in the United Kingdom. JB
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