Call to Action — Abduction of the Nigerian Schoolgirls

Statement on the One-Year Anniversary of the Abduction

On April 14, 2014, Boko Haram, a group of militant Islamic extremists, abducted 276 schoolgirls between the ages of 16 and 18 years from the Government Secondary Boarding School in Chibok, Nigeria. In commemoration of the one-year anniversary of this tragic abduction, we, as psychologists in the United States committed to the human rights and social justice of the Nigerian schoolgirls and their families, have developed this statement.  Given that the abduction and non-return of these schoolgirls provides a poignant illustration of the pervasive, global problem of discrimination and violence against girls and women, including abductions and trafficking, in every region of the world, the statement addresses the global nature of the problem.  

The Call to Action is an appeal to the broad international community on the importance of fully implementing international human rights standards, which protect girls and women against abductions, trafficking, and other forms of violence and discrimination. As a means to help achieve this goal, we urge all psychologists and psychological organizations to advocate with their national professional associations and their national government to urge all Member States of the United Nations toward full implementation.

The Statement offers concrete action recommendations, grounded in international human rights standards and psychological science, to prevent, reduce, and eliminate abductions, trafficking, and other forms of violence against against girls, children, and women. These are the actions we wish to accomplish. These are the actions you can take.