Liberty Medal nominee Malala Yousafzai wins Nobel Peace Prize before Philly visit

Liberty Medal nominee Malala Yousafzai was awarded the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize Friday, less than two weeks before the education activist's scheduled appearance in Philadelphia.

Yousafzai, 17, shares the Nobel Prize honor with Indian children's rights activist Kailash Satyarthi.

"Despite her youth, Malala Yousafzai has already fought for several years for the right of girls to education, and has shown by example that children and young people, too, can contribute to improving their own situations," the Norwegian Nobel Committee said in a statement.

Yousafzai first received international attention at the age of 11, when she wrote for the BBC about living under Taliban rule in her native Pakistan and spoke out against the prohibition of female education in the region.

Yousafzai continued to campaign for educational rights after she was shot in the head during an attempted Taliban assassination plot two years ago.

"Through her heroic struggle, she has become a leading spokesperson for girls' rights to education," the Nobel Committee said.

Yousafzai will visit Philadelphia Oct. 21 to receive the National Constitution Center's 2014 Liberty Medal during a ceremony at the museum on Independence Mall.

"Six Liberty Medal recipients have subsequently won the Nobel Prize, and Ms. Yousafzai is the youngest recipient," Constitution Center President and CEO Jeffrey Rosen said in a statement.

"She is an inspiring advocate for free speech and education around the globe and we are honored to be recognizing her magnificent achievements in Philadelphia on October 21."