Malala Yousafzai

It is truly terrifying.

You know, I have lived through those experiences.

I have seen them.

And when we were going through the Taliban's brutal time in our hometown in Swat Valley in the north of Pakistan, we wanted the world to see it because this is a reality that women are actually living.

These are

not things that, you know, sort of have happened in the past and they have stopped.

No, like these terrible things are happening each and every day.

Only a few stories actually make it to social media.

So when we see something horrible happening to others, I think even just stopping for a moment and just seeing it, witnessing it, so that they know that, you know, that you saw and you were there with them and that you feel...

anger, you feel the frustration.

So I think even when we share emotions, it is a message of solidarity.

But I want Afghan women to know that they are not alone.

I think they need more support.

And that's the work that I am supporting through Malala Fund.

I'm supporting Afghan activists in the country, outside the country.

And I hope that things change for them.

I think women's rights are a very fragile conversation in many parts of the world, including the United States.

And in moments like these, I think women and girls and advocates of women's rights should take a moment to reflect on how much progress we have actually achieved.

I know people often ask that, are we shocked to see these setbacks?

And I say, yes, I am shocked to see the setbacks everywhere, most importantly in Afghanistan, because imagine girls' education being banned.