Soroptimist International President Ann Garvie has called on
Soroptimists to keep up the pressure for the safe return of over 250 schoolgirls
abducted in Nigeria, while recognising this atrocity as a wake-up call for the
world.

“It’s hard even to imagine the scale of this vile crime: the
girls rounded up from their dormitories, loaded onto lorries and taken into the
bush, their school left burning”, she writes in her President’s
Message. “Hundreds of girls are missing and the leader of the group holding
them, Boko Haram, has threatened to sell them into slavery.”

“As Soroptimists, we need to ensure that people not only
speak out about this one horrific crime, but also recognise that it is not an
isolated incident.  The BBC have reported
that another 11 girls were kidnapped in northern Nigeria on Sunday night after
two villages were attacked near the militants’ forest hideout.  As Soroptimists, we know all too well that
modern day slavery is not confined to any one country or continent; that 10
million girls are forced or coerced into marriage each year; that girls in many
countries face great risks or barriers to attending school. 65 million girls
worldwide are not at school.  Less than
two years ago, we were horrified by the shooting of Malala Yousafzai in
Pakistan, because she campaigned for her right to education.”

President Ann urges Soroptimists to raise awareness of the
many threats faced by girls worldwide.

“We need to wake the world up to the scale of this problem
and ensure that our governments, media and the public at large do not forget
it. And we need to support and speak up for our Soroptimist sisters tackling
these issues in different parts of the world.”

In a SoroptiVoice
blog published today, SI’s Head of Programme and Advocacy Reilly Dempsey
set out four ways to keep the pressure on:

1.   Pressure
government officials.  It’s working.  Write, call, email politicians and
leaders.  Remember, signing online
petitions is good but your individual letter, call or visit is better.  By engaging with representatives over time,
you can make sure that these issues are not forgotten when the media spotlight
moves on.

2.   Spread
the word.  Write to your local
papers. Social media is also an amazing outlet – use the #BringBackOurGirls
hashtag. Raise awareness with friends and family, and don’t forget to target
audiences who might not know about the global threat to girls’ education.

3.   Plan a
protest or march and wear red. There are hundreds of protests popping up
all over the world.  Get out there and
take a stand. Spread the word that girls education matters.

4.   Keep the
momentum going.  Although this is an
egregious and shocking incident, all over the world, girls and young women in
education are targeted for acts of violence. 
Our action, advocacy and awareness raising must continue until every
girl can go to school without fear.

Read more:

• 9 May: President
  Ann Garvie’s full message
• 9 May:Take action, speak out, make change: every girl should go to
  school without fear #BringBackOurGirls
• 5 May:Statement from Soroptimist International of Nigeria Association
  #BringBackOurGirls
• 2 May:Over 200
  schoolgirls abducted in Nigeria