100 days blog: #BringBackOurGirls vigils held around the world
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Today is the 100th day since the Nigerian schoolgirls from Chibok were kidnapped by Boko Haram. Vigils are taking place around the world today and tomorrow 鶹APP and we will be covering the events as they happen in words, pictures and social media, updating this blog regularly.
Supporters will light candles and stand in solidarity in Africa, Asia, Europe and the United States. The Bring Back Our Girls group will play a leading role, with events organised in the Nigerian capital Abuja. Marches will be held across the country and prayers will be said in churches and mosques.
As well as Nigeria, events are being held on July 23 and 24 in other countries including Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Togo, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada and Portugal.
You can also:
Sign a new online petition by A World at School 鶹APP using the form on this page 鶹APP which will call for the safe return of the girls and which will be presented to Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan. You can also leave a message of support along with the petition and these will be passed to Chibok community leaders and families of the girls.
Read we have received already. Be inspired by some . Get more updates on A World at School鶹APPs and pages.
UN SPECIAL ENVOY鶹APPS MESSAGE
Gordon Brown, United Nations Special Envoy for Global Education, talks to Yahoo鶹APPs Katie Couric about why the vigils are vital. He says:鶹APPWe must show, in the international community, 100 days after they鶹APPve been taken into captivity, we will not forget鶹APP We will keep the torch for these girls alive and lit so that the whole world knows that we must do everything in our power to rescue them.鶹APP .
BAN KI-MOON: I鶹APPM WITH YOU
The UN Secretary-General released a statement last night. It read: 鶹APPI stand in solidarity with all those taking part in vigils today to demonstrate that the world has not forgotten the girls who were so cruelly abducted from their school 100 days ago in Chibok, Nigeria.I repeat my call for their immediate release and for an end to discrimination, intimidation and violence against girls whose only wish is to gain an education.鶹APP
FAMILIES MEET PRESIDENT
Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday met families of the missing girls, members of the Chibok community and some of the girls who escaped from Boko Haram. Hadiza Usman of the Bring Back Our Girls campaign said: 鶹APPThe community appreciated the visit and the president reassured them of the ongoing rescue operation. We are having a 100 days sit -out on July 23 at the Unity Fountain in Abuja.鶹APP
SIGNS OF SUPPORT
A sitout was held at Odogbolu in Nigeria鶹APPs Ogun state. Damola Morenikeji, an A World at School Global Youth Ambassador, said: 鶹APPOur thoughts, voices and prayers were focused on the abducted girls, with calls to Bring Back Our Girls and make our schools safer.鶹APP
BRIDGE RALLY IN VANCOUVER
The Canadian city hosted a #BringBackOurGirls vigil at Burrard Bridge.
Thank you Vancouver for the stellar response at our vigil!
鶹APP Amnesty Vancouver (@AmnestyBC)
PAKISTAN LIGHTS CANDLES
In Pakistan, a 100 Days candlelight vigil was held outside the Lahore Press Club. The (GODH), (ITA), Beydaari (a youth-led initiative) and Child Right Movement all took part and a letter of support was sent to the ambassador for Nigeria in Islamabad.
Another candlelight vigil was held in the DG Khan district of Punjab.Idara-i-Taleem-o-Aagah was also involved in this event, along with civil society organisations. ITA district manager Rafiq Ahmad said the Nigerian girls were being denied their education 鶹APP as were 11% of girls in Pakistan.
THE VOICES OF AMERICA
A vigil was held at Holmby Park in Los Angeles. Children, teenagers and adults took turns to demand #BringBackOurGirls by reading out their names. You can listen to some of them here.
WALK FREE AROUND THE WORLD
, the organisation that works to end slavery, encouraged people organising vigils to change their Facebook and Twitter profile page pictures and use the hashtags #100Days and #BringBackOurGirls. It also asked for photos to be submitted to 鶹APP here are a couple of them.
The one below is from Maged in Yemen.
This one is from Marina in New Zealand.
And this one is from Saeed in India.
STEPPING UP FOR CHIBOK GIRLS
A 100 days vigil was held on the steps of Hackney Town Hall in London. The picture below appears on the Instagram and Twitter accounts of , who is a UNICEF UK Chidren鶹APPs Championl.
LAGOS HEARS THE MESSAGE
Ola Bisoye Dosonmu, a journalist and producer with Nigeria鶹APPs Arise News, of a vigil in Lagos. She wrote: 鶹APPAll we are saying is #BringBackOurGirls 鶹APP 100 days and still counting.鶹APP
Nigerian TV channel TV360 ran a lengthy report on the Lagos vigil, which you can watch in the video player below.
OUR YOUTH AMBASSADORS IN NY
Some of A World at School鶹APPs took part in a vigil in New York City.
Proud to stand w/ youth ambassadors for New York vigil.
鶹APP Tyler Zang (@tylerzang)
And this tweet of thanks for those who protested in New York鶹APP
Thank you to campaigners in New York for yesterday鶹APPs rally We stand together
鶹APP #BringBackOurGirls (@rotexonline)
ABUJA REMEMBERS IN RED
Nigerian Federal Minister of Education Obiageli Ezekwesili attends a rally in the Nigerian capital Abuja on the 100th day since the girls were taken.
INDIAN CHILDREN ON MARCH
Children from 鶹APP a long-term rehabiliation centre for rescued child labourers near Jaipur, India 鶹APP held a candlelight vigil. Bal Ashram is run by , a partner of in India. The children marched from the centre to a nearby village, where they joined locals and Taiwanese volunteers from the Eden Foundation.
Global March Against Child Labour also submitted an appeal to the Nigerian High Commission in New Delhi.
CELEBRITIES LEND THEIR SUPPORT
TV talent show judge Sharon Osbourne has tweeted a link to this very blog. Sharon has appeared on America鶹APPs Got Talent and both the US and UK version of The X Factor.
It鶹APPs been since 219 girls of Chibok were kidnapped. Send your message of support here:
鶹APP Sharon Osbourne (@MrsSOsbourne)
American business magnate Russell Simmons 鶹APP founder of the hip-hop music label Def Jam and fashion clothing lines 鶹APP also tweeted his support.
ago, 219 Chibok schoolgirls were abducted. No more should pass.
鶹APP Russell Simmons (@UncleRUSH)
TheGeena Davis Institute on Gender in Media also asked its Twitter followers to sign A World at School鶹APPs petition and send messages of support.
It鶹APPs Been 100 Days Since 219 Girls of Chibok Were Kidnapped. Send Your Message of Support Here:
鶹APP GeenaDavisInstitute (@GDIGM)
Actor and writer Rainn Wilson, who starred in the US version of TV comedy The Office and founded the non-profit organisation , also urged his Twitter followers to hold a vigil or send a message of support.
219 girls of Chibok are being held captive. Show your support, host a vigil, send a message to :
鶹APP RainnWilson (@rainnwilson)
ARTWORK TRIBUTE
Artist has created this installation 鶹APP titled Chibok100 鶹APP with help from volunteers from the Rosebud Centre for Girls. It鶹APPs on show today in Loughton, Essex, England.
Moving artwork by marks 100 days of captivity of girls
鶹APP Rosebud Centre (@RosebudCentre)
TAKE A BOW, BRADFORD
The Bradford Women for Peace Network in West Yorkshire, England, held a vigil today. Its poster proclaimed: 鶹APPWear red. Bring a book. A pencil. Artwork. Poems. Songs for a peaceful vigil. Raise your books for EDUCATION FOR ALL!鶹APP
says . Vigil organised by
鶹APP Lisa Cumming (@LisaDialogue)
NEWSMAKERS JOIN IN TOO
Harriet Harman, deputy leader of the UK鶹APPs Labour Party, has tweeted this message today.
Now missing for 100 days. Kidnapped because they want an education. We must not rest until we
鶹APP Harriet Harman (@HarrietHarman)
CNN presenter Isha Sesay is also a member of the . She tweeted today about the 100 days.
Nigeria鶹APPs missing school girls have been in captivity for 100 days. So very sad to be marking this milestone today.
鶹APP Isha Sesay (@IshaSesayCNN)
And CNN tweeted this fantastic artwork.
Today marks a 鶹APPtragic milestone,鶹APP Gordon Brown says: via
鶹APP CNN (@CNN)
BBOG 鶹APPS MESSAGE TO THE GIRLS
The , which has 227,000 likes, has this message today for the abducted girls:
YOU CAN HOLD A MINI VIGIL
It鶹APPs great to be part of a crowd who are gathering to make their voices heard. But you can always hold your own vigil in your home, car, anywhere!
Karen Wespeiser of the National Foundation For Educational Research tweeted this picture:
And this sign was spotted on a car in London.
This office worker spotted a small vigil taking place on the streets of the Brazlian capital Brasilia.
Driving back to the office from lunch and there鶹APPs a rally outside. Brasilia, Brazil. 1:40pm
鶹APP God鶹APPsFavorite (@Dr_bamz)
鶹APPOR TAKE TO THE SPORTS FIELD
A #BringBackOur Girls 100 Days football match was held yesterday in the Nigerian capital Abuja. Dream Girls Women beat Airtel Girls FC 1-0 鶹APP but the result didn鶹APPt matter as organiser Aderonke Ogunleye said: 鶹APPIt has been 100 days of wailing and crying in the household of these girls. We are begging the insurgents to please let our girls go back home to their parents.鶹APP Partners in the event were Nigerian Red Cross, UN Women and Airtel.
鶹APPOR HOLD A VIGIL AT SCHOOL
Girls at Gumley House Convent School in Isleworth, England. today: 鶹APP@GumleyHouse girls in solidarity #100Days on. We say #BringBackOur Girls.鶹APP
WHAT NON-PROFITS ARE SAYING
Our friends at are marking the 100 days on its website and social media channels. Plan Global Advocacy Manager Emily Laurie has written a blog which reflects on the 100 days of campaigning since the girls were taken. .
, a campaign of the , tweeted:
Today marks since 219 girls in Nigeria were kidnapped. Girls have the right to be at school free of violence.
鶹APP Girl Up (@GirlUp)
, which seeks to end the oppression of girls and women, tweeted this:
Today marks the 100th day since the abduction of the Nigerian schoolgirls. Take action now to :
鶹APP Half the Sky Mvmt (@Half)
鶹APP AND AN OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT EXPERT
鶹APPFor all its moral depravity Boko Haram understands the power of education. There is a reason the group attacks school children, assassinates teachers and destroys schools.鶹APP These words come from a thought-provoking blog written by Kevin Watkins, director of the , and . Last year Kevin wrote a report, commissioned by A World at School, on the plight of Syrian refugee children in Lebanon.
INVITATIONS BY TWITTER
. Falomo Roundabout, Ikoyi 鶹APPWall of the Missing Girls鶹APP 4-6 pm
鶹APP EiE Nigeria (@EiENigeria)
unite! A vigil is being held in Holmby Park at 6PM. Stand up and help :
鶹APP A World at School (@aworldatschool)
. in will mark that 219 girls of have been held captive w/an art installation:
鶹APP A World at School (@aworldatschool)
Join in for a vigil at Burrard Bridge, 5PM.
鶹APP A World at School (@aworldatschool)
Looking for a way to support in ? Join the vigil at Hackney Town Hall!
鶹APP A World at School (@aworldatschool)
Grab a candle&join TONIGHT for vigil,6pm,Hackney Town Hall(E8 1EA)
鶹APP Making Herstory (@MakeHerstory1)
Do YOU want to STAND for our on this 100th day of their abduction? New York: Candlelight vigil @ Nigerian Consulate. 5.30pm.
鶹APP oby ezekwesili (@obyezeks)
1.30 today! Join . Vigil for the Nigerian schoolgirls hasn鶹APPt forgotten.
鶹APP Routes to Peace (@RoutestoPeace)