Pretoria – Minister for Women, Children and People with Disabilities, Lulu Xingwana has called on all religious groups to join the call for the release of 276 Nigerian girls, who were abducted by terrorist group Boko Haram.
“They claim to commit all these atrocities in the name of religion. Let religions all over the world stand up and join the outcry for the release of the girls,” Minister Xingwana said.
The girls, aged between 11 and 18 years, were abducted in Chibok, Nigeria, on 14 April. A further eight girls were abducted by the same group from their village in the north of Nigeria.
Minister Xingwana also called on the United Nations, African Union and the international community to support the Nigerian government and community in their efforts to secure the safe release of the girls.
She noted that in most conflict or wars, women and children were the biggest victims, often ending up as sex slaves, raped and trafficked while boys are forced to become child slaves or even child soldiers.
“Let us also continue to pray for our women and girls here in South Africa and many other countries in Africa, who continue to suffer brutal abuse, including rape and murder - mostly in the hands of their husbands/spouse or close relatives,” she said.
On Sunday, Mother’s Day, Minister Xingwana attended a service at the Roman Catholic Cathedral in Pretoria, where she reiterated a call on all religious leaders to fight satanism and terrorism in Africa.
“Today is Mothers’ Day and UN International Family Day. Let us use this day to pray for peace in the world and challenge militarism and end violence against women and children.
“As we celebrate Mothers’ Day and Family Day with our children, let us keep the Nigerian mothers and families, whose girls are abducted, in our thoughts and prayers,” she told the congregation. – SAnews.gov.za
