Aung San Suu Kyi takes the latest stride in her journey from an imprisoned activist to a politician on the world stage when she is scheduled to visit Europe this week to give a Nobel speech two decades in the making.

The Myanmar icon, who was under house arrest when she was awarded the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize, will leave on Wednesday for Switzerland, Norway, Ireland, Britain and France on only her second overseas foray in 24 years.

Suu Kyi did not leave Myanmar for more than two decades, fearing the generals who ruled the country would not let her return.