Memorandum

Date: 09 May 2014

To: The South African Government

From: One Billion Rising for Justice, V-Girls SA, Sisonke Gender Justice, Hope Africa, Sex Workers Education and Advocacy Task Force, RedZebra Foundation, Resilient Kids SA, the Mothertounge project, SISTA, NaijaSoc UCT and Dance4Life, students of the University of Cape Town, students of CPUT, students of the University of Western Cape and the general public.

Subject: #BringBackOurGirls

On behalf of the citizens of Cape Town, we are assembled here to demand the government to release an official statement as to how they intend on helping to free the girls.

Our #BringBackOurGirls campaign against the abduction of over 234 girls in Chibok is part and parcel of raising our voices in solidarity for Nigeria.

Despite the abduction of over 234 girls, the Nigerian government continues to deploy 5000 soldiers and policemen in Abuja for security for World Economic Forum; an obvious reflection of the value that the country places on its women and children.

“We recognise that the United States and the United Kingdom have sent special advisors to help the Nigerian army.  However, we urge African governments to take action. South Africa, in particular, has not done anything to support Nigeria.”

Today, over 234 girls are still missing. Our continent is trapped in a developmental crisis that has simply permitted this to happen.

In terms of moving forward, we expect the South African government to release an official statement as to how they intend to help free the girls. We expect a follow-up plan to the statement. We expect the follow-up plan to be unconditional to ensure the protection of human rights, out of a genuine concern for our girls.

We can no longer wait while the rate of exploitation increases. Girls are human beings and they have the basic human rights to dignity and to an education.

One Billion Rising for Justice suggests that if the rights of the girls are not protected, then we have failed as a society.

Signed on behalf of Government:

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Signed on behalf of citizens of Cape Town:

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Busisiwe Mkhumbuzi (Organizer of ‘Cape Town rises for Nigeria’)

E-Mail: [email protected]