She was given the RAW in WAR Anna Politkovskaya Award, named after the Russian investigative journalist who was shot dead seven years ago next Monday.
Malala is also among the favourites for the Nobel Peace Prize, which will be announced on October 11.
The 16-year-old was presented with the award in London and said she hoped she could be "as brave as (Politkovskaya) was".
"I greatly admire Anna's dedication to truth, to equality, and to humanity," Malala added.
The award was presented by the so-called "British Schindler", Nicholas Winton, now 104, who in 1939 saved the lives of more than 600 Jewish children from Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia as World War II was about to start.
As well as being a frontrunner for the Nobel, Malala has also been shortlisted for the European Parliament's prestigious Sakharov human rights prize.
Malala was flown to Birmingham in central England following the shooting, where surgeons have rebuilt her skull.
She attends school in the city, which has a substantial population of Pakistani heritage.
Her autobiography, "I Am Malala" is published in Britain and the United States on Tuesday, the eve of the anniversary of the attack on her as she travelled in a school bus.
RAW in WAR promotes women who have defended human rights. Last year's winner was Marie Colvin, the journalist with British newspaper The Sunday Times, who was killed covering the Syrian conflict.
COMMENTS (13)
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Another salt in Pakistans wound.
I am shocked and like many in the west very disappointed that the brave acts of a girl standing up against the criminal thugs that make up the Taliban should be criticised in these readers comments. How can any decent person , regardless of race or religion, think that shooting a teenager in the head can be defended under ANY circumstances . If somebody can please show me the passage in the Koran that demands that girls should not be educated or that they be punished by death I would be happy to listen. Do not mistake chauvinistic , primitive tribal bigotry as being the same as spiritual enlightenment .
People who comment negatively about Malala should first read why she's getting all the acclaim. She was fighting against the Taliban at a very tender age to get education. That's why she is being "singled out by the media". Also, if she does get the award then it would be huge news for Pakistan and, instead of producing conspiracy theories, it should be cause of celebration for all of us.
This is super girl..... i think she got supernatural powers
Just an exaggerated issue "Malala Yousuf Zai" on the media......
Where are the two other girls who were also shot along with Malala! Why aren't they being given awards and praises?! Her story is tragic, no doubt, but what exactly has she done to be singled out like this. In Pakistan hundreds die from the hands of Taliban, why aren't they celebrated?! I'm not saying she shouldn't be. She's a brave girl but I think she's getting all these awards and recognition for nothing. And if she's getting that much attention then the other two girls should too.
I hope she gets the Nobel prize. A good news for Pakistan in a long time.
Really proud of the fact she will be sharing the award with effluent personality like Mr. Obama the President of United States of America.
Malala makes Pakistan proud.!!!A real icon.
A RAW conspiracy.
No Nobel for Malala. What has she done to make Pakistan proud? She defied religious leaders, demanded education, and when punished for her insolence, she moved abroad where she goes about giving speeches besmirching Pakistan's name.
If Obama can get a Nobel Peace Prize for nothing then why not Malala?
I can see the Malala naysayers getting riled up thinking the West is giving her these awards to tarnish the Taliban. They ignore the fact that she was the vicious victim of the Taliban that enjoy a moderate support because the naysayers have a vitriol anger towards the West. To make their angst real they make excuses for the heinous acts the Taliban commit and hence sacrificing the innocence of young victims like Malala.