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From:TheBahamasWeekly.com Community
Nassau, Bahamas - Connections Chair, Eta Psi Omega Chapter, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. #Bringbackourgirls has been trending on social media sites over the last month. The hashtag has been used as a global outcry over the abduction of 284 schoolgirls kidnapped from the Chibok government secondary school in northeast Borno state, Nigeria. The initial kidnapping of 276 girls, followed by the kidnapping of 8 more has led the world to pitch in to bring back our girls. While this extremely sad story of militants trying to end western education in Nigeria has made global headlines after the terrorist group Boko Haram released a video saying they would sell the girls, there are hundreds of stories of persons being sold daily all over the world that will never make the news. In a show of unified support for this growing global campaign, presidents of the Nassau Bahamas local chapters of sororities, Alpha Kappa Alpha, Delta Sigma Theta, Zeta Phi Beta and Sigma Gamma Rho joined hands in solidarity with their international organizations to say “#bringbackourgirls”. The women also stand with every person fighting against any form of human trafficking, abuse and violence against women and young girls. “Bringbackourgirls emphasizes not only the plight of the young girls kidnapped in Nigeria but the plight of all young girls subject to abuse, violence and human trafficking. It has caused for us here in The Bahamas, to be more aggressive in our efforts to eradicate and prevent violence against women and girls both locally and internationally. We are here today to step up, stand up and speak up together, not only for the girls of Nigeria but for the girls in our communities and for women and girls everywhere.” expressed Ms. Alana Ingraham, President of Eta Psi Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. “While the campaign is a global one, the concern hits home for us as women, mothers, daughters and female leaders. We join hands to address this concern collectively as a unified body of women.” shared Mrs. Jeunesse Osadebay-Bullard, President of Nassau Bahamas Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. Mrs. Taisha Lloyd, President of the Theta Epsilon Zeta Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. stated, “Each chapter represented here is actively engaged in volunteer work focused on heightening the awareness of social issues facing women; mentoring to young ladies; promoting educational opportunities and economic advancement among women; and advocating for the rights and equality of women.” Ms. Tanya Woodside of the Kappa Delta Sigma Chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Inc. expressed, “As international organizations and chapters we had to speak up on this issue. This issue has garnered the world’s attention and brings to light other violent acts against girls and women that some have never even heard of. It reminds many victims around the world, who have been silenced that there are many of us who care and are standing up for them, speaking up for them and will continue to fight for them. All of the chapters here will continue to speak up for women and girls in The Bahamas and worldwide.” Human Trafficking is a modern-day form of slavery that leads to the exploitation of men, women and children for commercial sex or labour. It is the second largest and fastest growing criminal industry in the world. According to the United Nations “trafficking in persons is a global crime affecting nearly all countries in every region of the world. Between 2007 and 2010, victims of 136 different nationalities were detected in 118 countries across the world.” We in The Bahamas are not immune to this inhumane practice. In 2011 The Bahamas was listed as a destination, source and transit country for persons subjected to forced labour and sex trafficking in the Trafficking in Persons report. According to the United Nations Global Trafficking in Persons Report 2012, these victims of forced labour make up only 44% of those trafficked annually. The other 56% are victims of sexual exploitation. The Bahamas has had two reported cases of this latter form of Human Trafficking brought to the courts in 2013. With one conviction down and the other awaiting trial, we stand behind our leaders, officers and executors in the justice system as they attempt to defend the rights of these mistreated victims. The sororities of the Nassau Bahamas Pan-Hellenic Council condemns those traffickers and supporters of traffickers who utilize persons for slave labour, we also firmly stand against those who exploit victims for sexual purpose and against abuse and violence against women and girls. We encourage others to stand with us.
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