The Government of Argentina has awarded the #BringBackOurGirls movement the International Human Rights Prize ‘Emilio F. Mignone’ for work in advocacy towards respect for human rights worldwide.

The award ceremony will take place on Tuesday 6 December at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Buenos Aires.

The #BringBackOurGirls is being represented at the event by two members of the Movement– Aisha Yesufu who is the Chairperson of the  Strategic Team, and Dr. Chinwe Madubuike, a member of the Team.

While in Argentina, they will as part of the award ceremonies, meet with the human rights group– Las Abuelas de Plaza de Mayo (The Grandmothers of Plaza de Mayo- a Citizens’ group with a historical origin similar to #BringBackOurGirls. It is made up of grandmothers, mothers and other citizens who have since 1977  been advocating for the return of an estimated 500 children abducted or born in detention during the military era and illegally adopted, with their identities hidden.

The Grandmothers of Plaza de Mayo has advocated weekly in the last thirty nine years. Their advocacy bears strong similarity with #BringBackOurGirls which has been on a daily campaign since 30 April 2014 for the rescue of now 196 out of the 219 #ChibokGirls abducted in their school on 14 April 2014.

Other engagements are with Equipo Argentino de Trabajo e Investigación Psicosocial (EATIP – Argentine Psychosocial Work and Research Team), the Argentine Forensic Anthropology Team (EEAF, Equipo Argentino de Antropología Forense). Special Representative for Human Rights in the international stage, Ambassador Leandro Despouy; General Director for Human Rights, Minister María Gabriela Quinteros; Director for Subsaharan Africa; and Director for Women’s Issues, Minister María Luisa Martino. Center for Legal and Social Studies (CELS, Centro de Estudios Legales y Sociales). Visit to the ex ESMA (ex Naval School of Mechanics), visit to the Parque de la Memoria (Memory Park). Monument to the victims of State Terrorism, and conclude with a dinner with the Mignone family.

Sesugh Akume

#BringBackOurGirls Spokesperson