Geneva, May 8, 2014: The World YWCA joins the YWCA of Nigeria and the rest of the world in calling for urgent and immediate safe return of the 276 girls kidnapped from a state school in the town of Chibok by armed and uniformed men on April 15.

It is unacceptable that until today, the girls have not been rescued and their full situation is unknown. It is tragic that these girls are at risk of being trafficked and some have been sexually abused according to media reports. This is a gross violation of human rights. This is a bruise on the conscience of the whole of humanity.

The Nigeria government has the primary responsibility to protect its citizens including all girls.

Therefore the World YWCA calls for:

• The government of Nigeria to take all the necessary measures to:
  • Ensure the immediate and safe return of the girls to their families and communities.
  • Ensure security of all persons, end conflict and fight these criminal acts, that creates risk for kidnapping, sexual abuse and trafficking for girls.
  • Ensure justice is meted on the perpetrators of such violence.
• Provision of adequate psycho-social support and accompaniment to the girls when rescued as well as their families and friends.
•  Join and support the global campaign Bring Back Our Girls and sign the petition here in order to bear pressure and raise awareness on the plight of girls.
• The international community and all people of goodwill to support the efforts of the people of Nigeria in this effort.

We remain in prayer with our sisters and the people of Nigeria at this moment of pain and loss.

The World Young Women’s Christian Association (World YWCA) is a global network of 25 million women and girls leading social and economic change in over 120 countries worldwide. The World YWCA advocates for peace, justice, human rights and care for the environment and has been at the forefront of raising the status of women for more than a century. YWCA of Nigeria is an affiliated member of the World YWCA.