Justice for Pakistan's children

Global march against child labour

Malala Day

10 November 2012

TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber and leaders of teacher unions have written to the Pakistani High Commissioner in London today as part of Malala Day, the day designated by the UN to mark the bravery of teenager Malala Yosufzai, who was shot in the head for speaking up for her right to education in September.

The letter is part of a Global March Against Child Labour initiative designed to press the Pakistani Government to ensure all children go to school. Christine Blower (NUT), Mary Bousted (ATL) and Chris Keates (NASUWT) joined Brendan Barber in urging that 'all governments and international organisations must play their part to ensure that the millions of children who are currently out of school, receive the education that is their birthright.'

Here is the letter submitted today, Saturday 10 November.

His Excellency Mr Wajid Shamsul Hasan
High Commission for the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
35-36 Lowndes Square
London SW1X 9JN

Dear High Commissioner

Malala Day

As you know, today has been designated Malala Day by the UN in recognition of the bravery of Pakistani teenager Malala Yosufzai, who was shot in the head for speaking up for her right to education in September.

As part of the Global March Against Child Labour (http://globalmarch.org/) we are writing to alert you to the #IamMalala global petition which has so far attracted over a million signatures. The petition includes the following calls which we endorse on behalf of teachers and trade unionists across the UK:

• we call on Pakistan to agree a plan to deliver education for every child;
• we call on all countries to outlaw discrimination against girls;
• we call on international organizations to ensure the world's 61 million out of school children are in education by the end of 2015; and
• we further call on Pakistan to agree to a plan to deliver education for every child through building schools, training teachers and funding families whose daughters regularly attend school.

All governments and international organisations must play their part to ensure that the millions of children who are currently out of school, receive the education that is their birthright.

We urge you to convey our support for the #IamMalala global petition to your government.

Yours sincerely

Brendan Barber
General Secretary
Trades Union Congress

Christine Blower
General Secretary
National Union of Teachers

Mary Bousted
General Secretary
Association of Teachers and Lecturers

Chris Keates
General Secretary
NASUWT: the teachers' union