Malala Yousafzai (born July 12, 1997, in Mingora, Pakistan) is a globally recognized Pakistani activist and the youngest-ever recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, which she was awarded in 2014 at the age of 17. She rose to prominence for her courageous, non-violent advocacy for girls' education in Pakistan's Swat Valley, where the Taliban had banned girls from attending school. Her defiance led to an assassination attempt in 2012, after which she moved to the United Kingdom, where she continued her education and activism.

Malala was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize (shared with Kailash Satyarthi) for "their struggle against the suppression of children and young people and for the right of all children to education."