The 16 year old schoolgirl from Pakistan who was shot by the Taliban for campaigning for girls’ education has been awarded the Tipperary International Peace Award.

Malala Yousafzai was recognised for her activism. At the awards ceremony in Ireland, she told the audience that she would like to be know for more than having been shot by the Taliban.

“I don’t want to be the girl that was shot by the Taliban, I want to be the girl who fought for the rights of every child – whether girl or boy – their right of education and their right of equality,” Malala said.

She also appealed to governments around the world to change laws that discriminate against women and children.

From the age of 11 Malala had secretly written for the BBC. When her identity was revealed she was shot by the Taliban on her way to school.