Congresswoman Lee Joins Chibok Girls to Say “Bring Back Our Girls”

Washington, DC - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee participated in a press conference marking the one year anniversary of the kidnapping of 276 girls in Chibok, Nigeria by Boko Haram. The press conference, which called for renewed efforts to find the Chibok girls, included two survivors of the kidnapping who escaped last year.

“It’s been a heartbreaking year since the Chibok girls were kidnapped. Their families are still living in terrible uncertainty. They are left wondering if they will ever see their daughters and sisters again,” said Congresswoman Lee. “Today, I met two of the brave girls who managed to escape from Boko Haram. Their courage is inspiring. We must not fail them or their friends and classmates who are still missing. We must be persistent. We cannot allow efforts to bring back our girls to wane.”

In Congress, Congresswoman Lee has worked to raise awareness about the kidnapping and compel international action to rescue the girls. Last year, she led a letter with Congressman Mike Honda (D-CA) and Congressman Robert Pittenger (R-NC) encouraging President Obama to urge the United Nations to add Boko Haram to the UN Security Council Al-Qaida Sanctions List. The UN added Boko Haram to that list in May, 2014. Additionally, Congresswoman Lee led the charge to insert language condemning Boko Haram’s actions into the FY2015 State and Foreign Operations Appropriations bill.

“Boko Haram is stealing education and peace from hundreds of thousands of Nigerian children. Their terror has displaced 800,000 Nigerian children,” added Congresswoman Lee. “For countless women and girls in Nigeria and around the world, going to school is a life-or-death decision that they must make every day. Every child has the right to learn without fear of violence. Congress must act to bring our girls home and ensure all children can attend school safely.”

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Congresswoman Lee is a member of the Appropriations and Budget Committees, the Steering and Policy Committee, is a Senior Democratic Whip, former chair of the Congressional Black Caucus and co-chair of the Progressive Caucus. She serves as chair of the Whip’s Task Force on Poverty and Opportunity.