GNRD Conducts Rally with Nylund Skole: #BringBackOurGirls / #BringBackTHISGirl

STAVANGER, Norway, April 16, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Nearly 500 children who attend the Nylund Skole joined GNRD this morning to commemorate the anniversary of the 219 Chibok schoolgirls who remain in captivity in Nigeria - kidnapped by Boko Haram one-year ago today.

The Global Network for Rights and Development (GNRD) extends it gratitude and commends Nylund Skole's teachers and employees for their strategy in planning and orchestrating the huge number of students who attended the rally in the school yard, in a seamless, organized fashion. GNRD also thanks the students who participated and demonstrated with placards that held the messages, #BringBackTHISGirl, which is part of GNRD's social media advocacy campaign, in collaboration with the international campaign, #BringBackOurGirls. The students enthusiastically held the placards high, despite the weather conditions - relentless rain in combination with frigid temperatures.

The aim of the rally was two-fold: GNRD's first goal was to show support for the girls from Government Secondary School, Chibok and acknowledge that they are still missing. Our second goal, which GNRD will also continue with is to distribute "Tickets to Advocacy", which provide instructions for those who are interested in taking the next step to advocate for the girls' release. Many people would like to help, but are unsure of what to do or say. Therefore, this "Ticket", provides email addresses, telephone numbers of various government bodies, as well as a brief script simplifying this advocacy process.

Dr. Deeb, President of GNRD remarked that, "it is unconscionable for us to continue in silence as the clock continues to tick by and the girls remain in captivity. Women and girls, especially educated young women and girls are our future."

The Global Network for Rights and Development (GNRD) is an international NGO established in June 2008 with the aim to enhance and support both human rights and development by adopting new strategies and policies for real and lasting change.

The Global Network for Rights and Development (GNRD) is an International NGO in Consultative Status with United Nation (ECOSOC) established in June 2008 with the aim to enhance and support both human rights and development by adopting new strategies and policies for real change.

To these ends, GNRD as a neutral and impartial organization concentrates on:

• enhancing cooperation and partnership between the private and public sector in the academic, technical and political spheres;
• providing technical and humanitarian assistance in developing countries;
• promoting social justice, conflict mediation, and the application of the rights recognized in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The GNRD Head Office is situated in Stavanger, Norway and its branches are located in Austria, Belgium, Jordan, Spain, Sudan, Switzerland, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Zambia.

Mission Statement

During this time of globalization and fluidity in communication there is increasing human activity and interchange of worldviews, products, ideas and cultures. It is becoming imperative to ensure the positive utilization of globalization and make it fully inclusive and equitable. GNRD plays the role of catalyst by extracting the best of today's international discourse and engaging the United Nations and other relevant international institutions, for the benefit of the most vulnerable groups and people suffering from crises.

The GNRD objectives are:

To contribute to the collaboration of all relevant stakeholders, establish cooperation and partnership between the private and public sector, in the academic, technical and political spheres to promote and protect human rights and development.

To support and protect the most vulnerable groups and individuals suffering from humanitarian crises by taking all measures within our power to ensure their well-being and rights to equal opportunities.

To empower youth by means of diverse programs and training, along with supporting the specific GNRD Youth Groups.

To help alleviate the suffering of individuals trapped in conflict by providing mediation support when needed from the perspective of just and lasting peace in accordance with international law and United Nations Standards.

To reach its objectives, GNRD works in three main ways

1. Engaging the UN through advocacy during conferences, with a special focus on the Human Rights Council.
2. International cooperation, humanitarian assistance and contribution to development, including promoting technology transfer programmes.
3. Conferences, workshops, formal and informal platforms of dialogue facilitation and moderation worldwide on the discourse of peace, human rights, humanitarian aid and development.

GNRD uses the synergy of public-private cooperation and all relevant actors to build sustainable development in post-conflict and developing areas.

SOURCE Global Network for Rights and Development