It's heartbreaking that in 3 days 112 of our #ChibokGirls would have been in Boko Haram captivity for 4 years. Leah Sharibu, one of the #DapchiGirls and thousands of other Nigerians are also still held captive by Boko Haram. Keep demanding their rescue and reunification with their families.
#BringBackOurGirlsNYC: WHAT YOU CAN DO
We initially witnessed an unprecedented
outpouring of support from all over the world by ordinary people, students,
politicians, community leaders and entertainers urging the world to '#bringbackourgirls'.
This global activism fortified those within the country and kept the pressure
on the Nigerian government to take credible action. However, it has now been almost 4 years and
many have forgotten about the plight of the Chibok Girls, 112 of whom remain in
captivity.
More is needed today to remind the
world that the #ChibokGirls are #NeverToBeForgotten! Here’s what you can do!
1)
Additional
pressure must be brought to bear on the Nigerian government to make the issue
of the return of the Chibok Girls and other abducted persons a priority; commit
to greater transparency; and provide daily briefings where information can be
shared with families of abductees and the general public. As such, diplomatic missions and embassies
around the world should be targeted for lobby visits, phone calls, and public
demonstrations. Please write to the U.S.
Ambassador to Nigeria, W. Stuart Symington, Plot 1075 Diplomatic Drive, Central
District Area, Abuja, Nigeria (InformationOffice@state.gov) Telephone:
(234)-9-461-4000; Fax: (234)-9-461-4036and ask him to demand that the Nigerian
government move with urgency and make the return of the Chibok Girls and other
abducted persons in Nigeria a priority.
2)
International
organizations like Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, as well as intergovernmental
agencies like UN Women, 405 East 42nd Street, New York, NY 10017 Tel: +1 646
781-4400 Fax: +1 646 781-4444, UN Office for the Representative for Children in
Armed Conflict, Virginia Gamba – Under-Secretary-General 405 East 42nd St New
York, NY 10017 Fax: 212-963-0807; Fabienne Vinet Tel: 212-963-5986, email:
vinet@un.org. UN Office for the Prevention of Sexual Violence in Armed Conflict
led by Under-Secretary-General Pramila Patten (andersonl@un.org); 212-963-0910, must
continue to demand respect for the rule of law and the rights of women. Please write to them and ask that they join
the rallying cry for the return of the Chibok Girls and other abducted persons
in Nigeria.
3)
We
applaud but urge additional efforts by the international community to host
comprehensive dialogues on addressing extremism. This global issue needs global responses that
do not solely rely on militarized responses.
Please continue to rally, protest, march and create dialogue on this
issue until the Chibok Girls are returned.
4)
As a diaspora, we appreciate the
outpouring of help and support. However, we want Nigeria to remain
independent, autonomous, and sovereign. We nonetheless encourage
U.S. citizens to call their
representatives to express appreciation for efforts already taken, while
simultaneously urging greater action in partnership with the efforts of the
Nigerian government which we believe should remain in the foreground in restoring
these girls to normalcy and guaranteeing the security and well-being of all its
people.
5)
Take a personal pledge to amplify the
silenced voices of the Chibok Girls and/or become a #ChibokGirlsAmbassador
until all the girls are returned home.
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