The Working Group on Girls, Inc. shares our deepest concerns for the recent news from Nigeria about the abduction of school girls.
We add our voices to UN Women, the Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights, the Offices of the SRSG on Children and Armed Conflict, and the SRSG on Sexual Violence in Conflict, in stating that:
• We urge those who are responsible for their abduction to release them unharmed, and return them safely to their families, where they rightfully belong.
• Schools are and must remain places of safety and security, where children can learn and grow in peace. Girls and young women must be allowed to go to school without fear of violence and unjust treatment so that they can play their rightful role as equal citizens of the world. Women and girls have the right to live free from intimidation, persecution and all other forms of discrimination.
• We stand with the Nigerian people, especially the parents and families of the abducted girls.
Gerardine Rowley attending the event outside the Nigerian Embassy in Dublin on May 7th, 2014. Gerardine is quoted in the Irish Times ‘Also there was Gerardine Rowley, spokesperson of Ruhama, which supports women trafficked into prostitution. She was there”in solidarity” with the protesters.“We come into contact a lot with the human face of women and girls from Nigeria who have been trafficked into the sex industry here” she said.’ Full article here