The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (African Commission) continues to follow closely the issue of the Chibok girls and continues to express grave concern at the sad issue of kidnappings by terrorist militants in Nigeria. The African Commission continues to strongly condemn acts of violence committed by Boko Haram that have resulted in a trail of human rights violations inflicted on the people of Nigeria especially women and girls.
The African Commission commends the Government of Nigeria for its efforts that led to the release of the 21 girls who are part of the 276 school girls who were abducted by the militant Boko Haram at a boarding school in Chibok in April 2014.
The African Commission also applauds stakeholders such as the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Swiss Government for working indefatigably with the Nigerian Government in efforts and negotiations that lead to the release of the 21 girls who had been in captivity for more than two years.
The African Commission however laments that about 200 of these girls are still in captivity. In this regard, the African Commission continues to urge the Government of the Nigeria to intensify its endeavours of rescuing all the abducted girls, and calls on regional and international community to continue their coordinated efforts in ensuring the liberation of the remaining girls in captivity.
The African Commission further urges the Government of Nigeria to ensure that the released girls are rehabilitated and reintegrated into the society.
The African Commission also reminds the Government of Nigeria of its obligations under the under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights as well as the Protocol to the African Charter on the Rights of Women in Africa.
