Pakistani education activist Malala wins international peace award

Pakistani girls' education activist Malala Yousafzai has been awarded the 2012 Tipperary International Peace Award from Ireland.

Malala Yousafzai (Pic - AFP)

Yousafzai, who was shot in the head by the Pakistani Taliban, was awarded for her courage and determination to speak out in support of equal access to education for children.

Malala was one of five nominees, including US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, President of Indian National Congress Sonia Gandhi, former Kenyan journalist John Githongo and Pax Christi International, the Catholic human rights and peace organization, a report said.

Meanwhile, the 15-year-old activist is recovering at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, where she was brought from Pakistan on October 15.

The teenager was shot on her school bus in northwestern Swat in October by Pakistani Taliban for promoting girls' education and speaking against the militant group.