United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres appointed Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai a UN Messenger of Peace on Monday to promote girls education.
The appointment took place more than four years after a Taliban gunman shot her in the head on her school bus in 2012, the Express Tribune reported.
At 19, Yousafzai is the youngest Messenger of Peace, the highest honor given by the United Nations for an initial period of two years.
She was also the youngest person to win the Nobel peace prize in 2014 when she was 17.
"You are not only a hero, but you are a very committed and generous person," Guterres told Yousafzai.
UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric had earlier announced that the 19-year-old education advocate will focus worldwide attention on the need for all girls to go to school.
More From This Section
Yousafzai became the youngest-ever Nobel laureate in 2014 when she was recognised for her advocacy of the right of all children to education.
Her campaign led to a Taliban assassination attempt near her home in Swat that left her severely wounded.
She went to Britain for medical treatment and now goes to school there.