Declaration by the ANCWL Together With NGO’s, Civil Society, Women Class Women, Religious and Cultural Organisations, Interested Individuals and Progressive Men's Organisations
17 May 2014
We the South African Women and Men gathered at the Johannesburg City Hall on the 17th May 2014, united across our religious, cultural and racial diversity, hereby recognize that our fore-bearers waged the struggles against racism, inequality and sexism and won.
Amongst the many policies that continue to guide us, we derive our actions from the Freedom Charter, the Constitution of the ANC and of the ANCWL, the Constitution of our Country and policies, as well as the many transformatory pieces of legislation that have been promulgated by our democratic Parliament.
We are a democratic country that must always promote Human Rights and Human dignity, based on our Constitution which guarantees all humanity these rights.
As South African women who are beneficiaries and successors of those struggles, we shall work towards a total eradication of any form of women and children abuse.
We commit to join hands with all women across the world and in particular, from the African continent, and defend all our gains while forging ahead to ensure that in countries women attain those human rights where such rights are still not realized.
GIRLS RIGHTS ARE HUMAN RIGHTS.
On Tuesday, the 15th of April 2014 ,Boko Haram kidnapped over 230 school girls from their dormitory at Chibok Government school in Nigeria. These girls were studying for their exams and in the middle of the night, armed men ripped them from their beds.
We shall never sit back as spectators while our girls` human rights are taken away.
It is based on this recognition, that we are committed and determined to support the people of Nigeria in their pursuit to "bring back safely", the kidnapped Nigerian school girls.
We commit to;
Work with our women and men`s organizations to ensure social solidarity with the Nigerian people while mobilizing and educating our nation on human rights, which are girls rights and more importantly to act against human trafficking.
Educate girls and save our continent. Therefore, these girls must be safely returned and allowed to continue with their studies. The future of our continent depends on the rescue of all of these girls and the stabilization of the Africa.
Come together and tell the world that we will not allow schools to be places of violence. We want every girl and boy child to be brought up in a secure and peaceful environment where they are nurtured to fulfill their potential and become responsible citizens.
Promote efforts to eliminate all forms of violence against women and children.
We say no to using of children as pawns in political and religious disputes.
We say no to human trafficking.
We will promote and protect all human rights of women and girls.
Let us advance gender equality by accelerating implementation of agreed global and regional commitments of gender equality and women empowerment.
We want our girls rescued and we want all schools to be protected.
During the second year of The African Women`s Decade let us re-invigorate commitments to accelerated implementation of agreed global and regional commitments of gender equality and women empowerment (GEWE).
Let us Achieve Parity in Education at secondary and tertiary levels and achieve higher retention rates for girls.
We will keep the flame of awareness burning by holding various events to highlight the plight of these girls until they have been returned safely to their homes
WE ARE CONVINCED THAT
The Boko Haram is a militant and dangerous terrorist group that is vehemently OPPOSED by all religious groupings including Islam and goes against the fundamental principles of the Islam religion by removing innocent children from their families .
IN CONCLUSION
With these fundamentals in mind we commit our solidarity to the women of Nigeria, both Muslims and Christians in every effort possible for the safe return of the kidnapped school girls. We are not aiming to come from a position of authority on the challenges faced in that country but rather a position of support for unity in tackling these challenges.
We call upon all Africans and the world to unite behind the people and government of Nigeria in ensuring these girls are returned and call upon international community to uphold its commitments to women`s rights as human rights, as well as commitments they have made to ensure the protection of girl children.
We encourage all South Africans, Africans and people across the world to sign our Social Solidarity Petition to unite behind this cause and campaign to "Bring back our girls." The petition is available on our ANC and ANCWL Website, #bringbackourgirlssafely.
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| School girls in Nigeria. |
We the South African Women and Men gathered at the Johannesburg City Hall on the 17th May 2014, united across our religious, cultural and racial diversity, hereby recognize that our fore-bearers waged the struggles against racism, inequality and sexism and won.
Amongst the many policies that continue to guide us, we derive our actions from the Freedom Charter, the Constitution of the ANC and of the ANCWL, the Constitution of our Country and policies, as well as the many transformatory pieces of legislation that have been promulgated by our democratic Parliament.
We are a democratic country that must always promote Human Rights and Human dignity, based on our Constitution which guarantees all humanity these rights.
As South African women who are beneficiaries and successors of those struggles, we shall work towards a total eradication of any form of women and children abuse.
We commit to join hands with all women across the world and in particular, from the African continent, and defend all our gains while forging ahead to ensure that in countries women attain those human rights where such rights are still not realized.
GIRLS RIGHTS ARE HUMAN RIGHTS.
On Tuesday, the 15th of April 2014 ,Boko Haram kidnapped over 230 school girls from their dormitory at Chibok Government school in Nigeria. These girls were studying for their exams and in the middle of the night, armed men ripped them from their beds.
We shall never sit back as spectators while our girls` human rights are taken away.
It is based on this recognition, that we are committed and determined to support the people of Nigeria in their pursuit to "bring back safely", the kidnapped Nigerian school girls.
We commit to;
Work with our women and men`s organizations to ensure social solidarity with the Nigerian people while mobilizing and educating our nation on human rights, which are girls rights and more importantly to act against human trafficking.
Educate girls and save our continent. Therefore, these girls must be safely returned and allowed to continue with their studies. The future of our continent depends on the rescue of all of these girls and the stabilization of the Africa.
Come together and tell the world that we will not allow schools to be places of violence. We want every girl and boy child to be brought up in a secure and peaceful environment where they are nurtured to fulfill their potential and become responsible citizens.
Promote efforts to eliminate all forms of violence against women and children.
We say no to using of children as pawns in political and religious disputes.
We say no to human trafficking.
We will promote and protect all human rights of women and girls.
Let us advance gender equality by accelerating implementation of agreed global and regional commitments of gender equality and women empowerment.
We want our girls rescued and we want all schools to be protected.
During the second year of The African Women`s Decade let us re-invigorate commitments to accelerated implementation of agreed global and regional commitments of gender equality and women empowerment (GEWE).
Let us Achieve Parity in Education at secondary and tertiary levels and achieve higher retention rates for girls.
We will keep the flame of awareness burning by holding various events to highlight the plight of these girls until they have been returned safely to their homes
WE ARE CONVINCED THAT
The Boko Haram is a militant and dangerous terrorist group that is vehemently OPPOSED by all religious groupings including Islam and goes against the fundamental principles of the Islam religion by removing innocent children from their families .
IN CONCLUSION
With these fundamentals in mind we commit our solidarity to the women of Nigeria, both Muslims and Christians in every effort possible for the safe return of the kidnapped school girls. We are not aiming to come from a position of authority on the challenges faced in that country but rather a position of support for unity in tackling these challenges.
We call upon all Africans and the world to unite behind the people and government of Nigeria in ensuring these girls are returned and call upon international community to uphold its commitments to women`s rights as human rights, as well as commitments they have made to ensure the protection of girl children.
We encourage all South Africans, Africans and people across the world to sign our Social Solidarity Petition to unite behind this cause and campaign to "Bring back our girls." The petition is available on our ANC and ANCWL Website, #bringbackourgirlssafely.
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