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Daisy Jeremani Gender Editor
ZIMBABWE has expressed shock and sadness over the attack against the liberty of the girl child after the recent abduction of 276 girls from their school hostel in Chibok, Borno State in Nigeria.
The girls were abducted three weeks ago by an Islamic militant group, Boko Haram. Delivering a speech of solidarity on behalf of women and girls of Zimbabwe at the Nigerian embassy in Harare on Tuesday, the Minister of Women Affairs, Gender and Community Development, Cde Oppah Muchinguri said this was a gross violation of human rights.
“We want to express our shock and sadness at this outrageous, clear attack against the liberty of the girl child in our sister country of Nigeria. We have no doubt that the abduction of the girls and their abuse in captivity is a gross violation of their human rights under international law and constitutes a crime against humanity,” she said.
Cde Muchinguri said Zimbabwe continues to pray for the girls’ safety, while in the hands of their abductors, and expressed hope for their immediate and safe release to their families. She also urged those that were responsible for their abduction and captivity to release them unharmed, and without any conditions.
“As mothers, sisters and daughters and indeed wives, we feel the pain of the Nigerian families whose loved ones have been abducted into captivity. In the spirit of African solidarity and of our cultural principle that a child belongs to the whole community, the pain is indeed also our own.
“The urgency to protect the girls from all forms of violence, torture, inhuman or degrading treatment, including sexual abuse, must be everyone’s priority,” said the Minister.
She said as women and girls of Zimbabwe, they call upon all progressive forces to fight against any custom, tradition, cultural or religious practice that violates the rights of all children, regardless of their sex.
“We are in solidarity with the girls of Nigeria whose rights are being violated in the name of religion.
“This resonates well with our Zimbabwean context where we have seen adolescent girls and young women abused in the name of culture and religion,” she said.
She added that schools were and must remain places of safety and security, where children can learn and grow.
“Girls and young women must be allowed to go to school without fear of violence or 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 from all forms of discrimination,” she said.
Cde Muchinguri commended the commitment and ongoing efforts by the government of Nigeria and the international community to have these girls returned safely.
Her sentiments were echoed by National Assembly members from different parties in parliament on Tuesday. Some of them urged Africa to unite in order to secure the release of the school girls.
Online Reporter