Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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I welcome and thank the ambassador for his presentation. We have all expressed our support, in various ways, for the efforts to find the abducted girls and return them to their families. It was an act of aggression and oppression by a group which believed in its own superiority. The fact is that 50% of the population, that is, women, were not regarded as being entitled to freedom of access to education. We should compliment the girls from Finglas who identified with the abducted girls and wrote to the Chairman to express their concern. They did something that was within their ambit. Perhaps people throughout the globe might have done a little bit more or acted a little quicker, whether in Nigeria or elsewhere. It may well be a difficult and sensitive issue and I hope the negotiations are successful, but the degree to which this behaviour is accepted in a modern society in any part of the globe is frightening. A couple of years ago an attempt was made on the life of a young girl in Pakistan because of her opposition to the ongoing campaign to prevent girls from getting an education. That attempt failed, but there is continuing aggression against and suppression of women and girls. This behaviour is unacceptable in any society, regardless of its origins.

I ask the extent to which the international community has come on board to offer assistance. In a case of this nature, there should be no circumstances in which offers of help are refused. It is essential that every possible avenue be explored to ensure the perpetrators of this deed are given a clear indication there is no safe place for them and that there is no way they can win. Deprivation of education is deprivation of freedom and human rights. In regard to human rights, it is sad that might seek to overcome right, even at this time. The most worrying factor is that the victims were vulnerable and that their rights were overcome and set aside by those who see themselves as occupying a superior position. It must be extraordinarily scary for young women and girls in Nigeria and other countries beset by similar activities.

I acknowledge that individual members of the committee have previously raised this issue with the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade. The European Union is also acting on it. The United Nations should also take action and I hope it is making a serious effort to impress on those involved that this action is unacceptable. Everything that can be done should be done to highlight the issue. We should all express the hope that the girls who are the victims in this case will be returned home safe and sound.