We won’t abandon Chibok girls – United Nations

United Nations Special Envoy for Global Education, Gordon Brown, yesterday called on the entire world to join Nigeria in their efforts to rescue the kidnapped schoolgirls from Chibok area of Borno State few months back.According to a release from his office, Brown said, “we, of course, hope that the Chibok girls will be released before July 22.”Brown is expected to start his new term as special envoy this month."">“However, by marking the 100th day of the abduction of the girls, kidnapped by Boko Haram terrorists, and by pledging never to abandon them, we are reminding people that we are in the mind-set of a global civil rights struggle,” he said.“Girls’ rights should be taken seriously and they should have the right to be at school free of intimidation and violence. We will mark the 100 days by pledging to rebuild their Chibok school and by calling for international support for safe school across Nigeria,” Mr. Brown stated.According to the statement, the vigils would be staged at the same time in Africa, Asia, Latin America, Europe and the United States under the banner #BringBackOurGirls. Mr. Brown is calling on civil society and youth organisations to come together in solidarity with the school girls and to send letters of support to the online petition (http://www.aworldatschool.org/page/s/100daysBBOG) calling for the safe return of the girls and all messages of solidarity will be passed to Chibok community leaders and families of the girls.Mr. Brown will also send the petition to Nigerian President, Goodluck Johnathan and UN Secretary, Ban Ki-moon. The Chibok Girls’ families are expected to sign the petition and offer their full support for the Safe Schools Initative- a fund set up to pilot 500 safe schools in northern Nigeria. The programme brings the Nigerian Government and Nigerian business leaders together with the international community to ensure that all children are safe when learning.