Women, children, rights defenders in Tanzania demonstrate against Boko Haram inhuman act

By Staff writer

May 15 was an International family day whereby every society was expected to show their joy and gratitude for safety and peace they are blessed with, but this did not happened to N

Dar es salaam secondary schools students accompanied by local activists in demonstration around the TGNP grounds  

igeria.

It has been a month since majority of Nigerian families mourn and cry foe the abduction of girls by the military Islamic group known as Boko Haram.

In collaboration with over thirteen civil society organizations, Tanzania Gender Networking Programme (TGNP) organized a peaceful demonstration condemning the abduction of over 200 school girls from Chibok, Nigeria by Boko Haram.   Originally, the rally was to take place in Oyster Bay with a march to the steps of the Nigerian Embassy, but without police support, the organization was moved to the grounds of TGNP. With a peaceful demonstration around TGNP’s grounds supporters of the Nigerian girls and advocates for gender equality in Africa and around the world were present.

The leading organization of this demonstrate were TGNP Mtandao, TAMWA, LHRC, WiLDAF, TAWLA and WILAC and others who have always been on the forefront as defenders of all issues related women and children violence

The goal of the demonstration was to present the letter on behalf of TGNP and other CSOs to the Nigerian Embassy, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, Minister of Community Development, Gender and Children (MCDGC), the media, and the public to demand the return of the girls. In short, the letter outlines the importance of the ratification of the Convention of the United Nations on the Rights of the Child, and the importance of protecting children and furthermore it asks:“What exactly are these nations doing to ensure there is adequate protection of children and specifically for girls.” Said, Lilian Liundi the Acting, Executive Director of TGNP Mtandao.

Activists and students during the demonstration at TGNP grounds in Dar es salaam

The letter also addressed to the Nigerian Ambassador as well as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, and the Minister of Community Development Gender and Children, the letter demands accountability from the leaders of both Tanzania and Nigeria, and concerted efforts to return the girls and ensure they have access to education.

Students from Mabibo High School spoke out against the kidnapping and the Head Girl explained she was speaking on behalf of all the kidnapped girls.

 Furthermore, other students remarked that as an African union, nations should be pulling their resources together to find the girls and bring them home safely.

Speaking during the session the Executive Director of Women in Law and Development in Africa (WiLDAF) Judith Udunga, criticized the militarization of freedom efforts across the continent, and the lack of similar mobilization when searching for the schoolgirls.

 Similar sentiments were echoed and community members asserted that women are not on loan to Boko Haram, and furthermore they are not a bargaining chip with which to make political statements.

 All in all, the peaceful protest represented solidarity with Nigerian citizens and the international community, and demanded Tanzania should take a position and offers its resources on behalf of the African union in order to bring the schoolgirls home safely.