* WARNING: THIS IS AN UNOFFICIAL, INTRODUCTORY COPY OF THE BILL.
THE OFFICIAL COPY CONSIDERED BY THE CITY COUNCIL IS THE FIRST READER COPY.
INTRODUCTORY*
CITY OF BALTIMORE
COUNCIL BILL R
(Resolution)
Introduced by: Councilmember Holton
A RESOLUTION ENTITLED
A COUNCIL RESOLUTION concerning
title
Bring Our Girls Back
FOR the purpose of standing in solidarity with the families of the schoolgirls senselessly abducted in Chibok, Nigeria, supporting their demand to "bring our girls back", and pledging not to allow the abducted girls' plight to be forgotten until they are all safely returned to their families and the threat posed by their abductors has been eliminated.
body
Recitals
On April 14th nearly 300 schoolgirls were forcibly abducted from their school in Chibok, Nigeria by terrorist fanatics opposed to the education of women operating under the label of Boko Haram. This is far from the only atrocity committed by Boko Haram, but, together with the group's announced plan to sell the girls into sexual slavery as child brides, it is their most appalling act to date.
The girls' families have been pressing their government to take aggressive action against Boko Haram to recover the girls and end the threat the group represents to other families and children across the region. Sadly, the Nigerian government, apparently more concerned with appearances than with the safety and security of its citizens, initially sought to ignore or downplay the attack. And it has so far proven unwilling or unable to respond effectively to Boko Haram's despicable acts. Instead, it has taken actions against the protesting families in an effort to silence them and quiet criticism of the government's failure to protect Nigeria's children.
As international anger and pressure has continued to mount, the Nigerian government has finally acknowledged the attacks and, with some international assistance, begun to mount a serious effort to stamp out the modern day slavers of Boko Haram and recover their victims.
Still, it is all too apparent that Nigeria's government would prefer for this issue to just go away, and it is at least questionable whether it has the capacity to act effectively against Boko Haram without international assistance. For both of these reasons it is essential that people worldwide remain engaged with the efforts to rescue Chibok's girls from the appalling fate they face. Only the sustained pressure of worldwide condemnation can make it impossible for the Nigerian government to quietly write off these girls or turn against their families for demanding action. And only sustained interest by the citizens of nations capable of helping in the search for the girls can push our and other governments to make vital resources available to help locate and rescue these innocents.
Here in Baltimore we may be too far away to physically help in the search for the abducted girls, but that does not mean that we are helpless to assist them. By keeping their plight foremost in our thoughts and conversations, and making it clear to both Nigeria's government and our own that we will demand every effort be made to 'bring our girls back' for as long as it takes to see them safely home, we can stand in solidarity with their families and help to ensure that this despicable act is not able to be swept under the rug or repeated without consequence.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF BALTIMORE, That the Council stands in solidarity with the families of the schoolgirls senselessly abducted in Chibok, Nigeria, supports their demand to "bring our girls back", and pledges not to allow the abducted girls' plight to be forgotten until they are all safely returned to their families and the threat posed by their abductors has been eliminated.
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be sent to the Mayor, the President of the United States, Maryland's Congressional delegation to the 113th Congress, the Governor, the Baltimore City Delegation to the Maryland General Assembly, the Maryland Commission for Women, and the Mayor's Legislative Liaison to the City Council.
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