One month ago, 15-year-old Malala Yousafzai was shot in the head by a Taliban gunman. Malala's crime? She wanted to go to school, and ran a campaign in Pakistan to help girls gain access to education.
Malala has been an activist for years -- when she was 11, she worked as an anonymous blogger for the BBC to expose information about her Taliban-ruled area of Pakistan. Now, even as she recovers from being shot in the head, Malala says, "All I want is an education. And I'm afraid of no one."
In response to Malala's extraordinary courage, people all over the world are calling for her to be nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize.
The Nobel Peace Prize has been used for decades to bring global attention to important issues, from landmines to apartheid to the US civil rights movement. Bonnie believes the time is right to focus on girls being denied the right to go to school, and honoring Malala's bravery is a great way to do that.
"The hopes and dreams of girls throughout the world are no longer hidden – yet there is much to do, as Malala’s wounds attest," Bonnie says about her petition. "By nominating Malala Yousafzai, these global leaders will send a clear message: We stand with Malala and with girls everywhere in their fight for the right to equal opportunity through education."
As two of the highest ranking women in the history of US government, a nomination for Malala from Secretaries Clinton and Rice would be a strong signal to the global community that Malala's fight is important to people in the US.
Secretary Clinton has responded to petitions on Change.org before -- last year, she publicly declared support for Saudi women's right to drive for the first time and credited a Change.org petition. Bonnie believes that if enough people sign her petition, Secretaries Clinton and Rice will take a stand to support Malala and girls all over the world who just want to go to school.
Thanks for being a change-maker,
- Rachel and the Change.org team
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