Sinn Féin spokesperson on Foreign Affairs, Seán Crowe TD, raised the case of the kidnapping of over 200 school girls in Nigeria by the radical Islamist group Bok Haram in Leinster House today.

Crowe was speaking at the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement Committee, which was discussing the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security.

This Resolution focuses on women’s role in the prevention of conflict, the protection of women and girls from specific harms, the participation of women in leadership and decision-making roles, and for gender perspectives to be included in the implementation of programmes by the UN, civil society organisations and other peace building institutions.

Deputy Seán Crowe said:

“I was conscious that while we were discussing the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325, over 200 girls are still missing in Nigeria, whose only crime was to attend school.

“Their kidnapping by radical Islamist militants from Boko Haram has shocked the world. Boko Haram’s leader this week threatened to “sell” the students, saying they should not have been in school in the first place, but rather should get married.

“This abduction is a stark reminder of the injustice faced by girls and women around the world. The right to education is a fundamental human right and all children should have safe and free access to education.

“Schools should be a place of safety and learning, not of fear and violence.

“I welcome that the Irish Government has pledged its support in assisting the search to find and free these kidnapped
girls.

“The plight of this girl is of international concern and we must all unite in the campaign to free them, but also to end gender inequality and to ensure that all children have free and safe access to quality education.”

ENDS