Brown’s plea for Chibok girls on Day of The African Child

BY THE OFFICE OF GORDON

Gordon Brown has urged the world to remember the kidnapped girls of Chibok on the Day of The African Child.

Two months after 287 girls were kidnapped from their school the UN Special Envoy for Global Education has also praised young people around the world as they mobilise to demand education for all.

The Day of the African Child, June 16th, honours the memory of students who were massacred in Soweto in 1976 for protesting against education inequality in Apartheid South Africa. The African Union designated the day in 1991 and every year events are organised to promote children’s rights.

Young people, schools, teachers, and faith groups from across the world will unite and dedicate the Day of the African Child 2014 to the delivery of quality for education and safe schools.

On Monday, 100 events will take place in 45 countries. A flagship event is taking place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where an assembly of youth from across the globe will host a ‘Youth Takeover’ of the African Union deliver a call to action to world leaders.

Brown said: “Young people throughout the world have dedicated today, Day of the African Child, not only to education, but in solidarity with the 287 school girls kidnapped by Boko Haram.

“Thousands of people have come together united with one cause: safe schools for every girl and boy.

“While the global community has failed to deliver safe schooling, young people are demanding safe, quality schools for all children everywhere and stand in solidarity with the northern Nigerian girls of Chibok and all those around the world who face these struggles.”

Alongside the Addis event there will be a youth takeover of Rio de Janeiro City Hall, attended by Mayor Eduardo Paes and several members of his cabinet and a youth takeover of the Capitol Building in Liberia. Film screenings, art workshops, marches and many other events are taking place around the world from Nepal to Pakistan, Columbia to Yemen.