The news came as the UN held "Malala Day", in the name of Malala Yousufzai, 15, a Pakistani education campaigner.

BBC: Pakistan 'to pay cash to poor to send kids to school'

Her story has been an inspiration to millions around the world, including Gordon Brown, U.N. special envoy for global education, and Ban Ki-Moon, U.N. secretary general, who proclaimed today, November 10, 2012, Malala Day and invited us to stand with Malala.

FORBES: Malala Yousafzai: The Children of the World Are Watching

"It was mayhem, " recalls Kainat Riaz of the day when her friend Malala was shot while they were on on their school bus last month in Pakistan's Swat valley.

BBC: Asia

Saturday has been declared a global day of action in Malala's name aimed at getting school places for 32 millions girls around the world who are not attending classes.

BBC: Pakistan 'to pay cash to poor to send kids to school'

But if there is one reality that exposes our failure to deliver, it is that there are 61 million young children like Malala who will not go to school today or any other day.

CNN: Millions of children face Malala's fight for an education

In the presence of the local media they jointly announced that "Standup for Malala - Stand up for Girls' Right to Education" day in Paris will be attended by the president of Pakistan Mr. Asif Ali Zardari.

UNESCO: Joint Press Conference to announce "Stand up for Malala - Stand up for Girls' Right to Education" Day | United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization

On this International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, we must all stand up for Malala Yousafzai and for the rights of girls and women across the world.

UNESCO: MEDIA SERVICES