Girls' Brigade International

Young Women's Christian Association | YWCA [Abbr.]

21. Denounces the targeting of educational institutions and premises for terrorist attacks, as a means of undermining the education and dignity of all citizens as well as causing mistrust and division between communities; recalls the abduction and disappearance of Christian girls in the Nigerian town of Chibok by the jihadist terror group Boko Haram in 2014, which attracted worldwide condemnation;

21. Denounces the targeting of educational institutions and premises for terrorist attacks, as a means of undermining the education and dignity of all citizens as well as causing mistrust and division between communities; recalls the abduction and disappearance of Christian girls in the Nigerian town of Chibok by the jihadist terror group Boko Haram in 2014, which attracted worldwide condemnation;

whereas some armed groups are opposed to secular and girls’ education, or to girls being treated by male medical personnel, and therefore hamper access to these services; whereas a general climate of insecurity as a result of conflict also prevents children, teachers and medical personnel from attending school or seeking medical assistance; whereas women and children face heightened risks as a result of displacement and the breakdown of normal protection and support structures; whereas international humanitarian law requires that all necessary ...[+++]medical care be provided without discrimination to girls and women raped in war; whereas unsafe abortion is listed by the World Health Organisation as one of the three leading causes of maternal mortality; whereas maternal health, counselling of women rape victims, and education and schooling of displaced children are major challenges at refugee camps.

24. Deplores the fact that women and girls are the most affected by extreme poverty, while it is factually proven that investment in women and girls and empowering them through education is one of the most efficient ways of combating poverty; stresses the need to do more to secure the right to education and access thereto, especially for girls, and that action must be taken to prevent them from being forced to abandon their studies, as they often are when they marry and have children; stresses the need for action to include women and girls in investment and growth processes in third countries; maintains that it is essential to continu ...[+++]e counteracting the gender pay gap; notes that European companies operating in third countries have a vital role to play in promoting gender equality in those countries, since they act as role models; encourages women to become actively involved in trade unions and other organisations, as this will do much to introduce gender aspects into labour relations and working conditions;