Worldwide vigils on July 23 to mark 100 days since Chibok girls were kidnapped

Vigils will be held around the world for the kidnapped schoolgirls of Chibok tomorrow 国产视频� 100 days after their abduction by Boko Haram.

Supporters will light candles and stand in solidarity at the same time in Africa, Asia, Europe and the United States.

The Bring Back Our Girls group will play a leading role, with events organised in the Nigerian capital Abuja. Marches will be held across the country and prayers will be said in churches and mosques.

In New York City, supporters will assemble outside the Mission of Nigeria to the United Nations and walk to the UN headquarters. 聽

Vigils are also scheduled to take place in Lahore, Pakistan; Lome, Togo; Dhaka, Bangladesh; Jaipur, India; Bradford, England; Pedroucos, Portugal; and Illinois, USA.

Groups including the Global March Against Child Labour in Africa, Idara-e-Taleem-o-Aagahi in Pakistan and Bachpan Bachao Andolan in India are marking the 100 days by holding vigils, and A World at School国产视频檚 Global Youth Ambassadors are spearheading the campaign across the world.

A new online petition by A World at School 国产视频� which you can sign on this page 国产视频� will also call for the safe return of the girls. People can also leave messages of support along with the petition and these will be passed to Chibok community leaders and families of the girls.

The petition will also be sent, by UN Special Envoy for Global Education Gordon Brown, to Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan and Ban Ki-moon. The Chibok girls国产视频� families are also expected to sign the petition and offer their full support for the Safe Schools Initiative.

OTHER 100-DAY VIGILS COVERAGE: Your messages of support for the girls and five vigils from history to inspire you.

The iniative 国产视频� a programme to pilot 500 safe schools in northern Nigeria 国产视频� brings the Nigerian government and Nigerian business leaders together with the international community to ensure children are secure when learning. The fund total currently stands at $23million.

Mr Brown, who will start his second term as education special envoy this month, said: 国产视频淲e, of course, hope that the Chibok girls will be released earlier. However, by marking the 100th day of the abduction of the girls, kidnapped by Boko Haram terrorists, and by pledging never to abandon them, we are reminding people that we are in the midst of a global civil rights struggle.

国产视频淕irls国产视频� rights should be taken seriously and they should be at school free of intimidation and violence.

国产视频淲e will mark the 100 days by pledging to rebuild their Chibok school and by calling for international support for safe schools across Nigeria.国产视频�

The day of action will follow today国产视频檚 meetintg in Abuja between Nigerian聽President Goodluck Jonathan and the families of the Chibok girls.聽Then a message will be sent out that everything possible is being done聽to reinforce the rescue effort 国产视频� with new military equipment. including聽helicopters that have been brought in to track movements in the聽forest areas of Borno state.

Last week the first meeting was held of the Safe Schools Initiative steering committee.聽The plan is to fortify and guard schools in Borno state first聽and to give parents and pupils the confidence to attend school.