Rep. Frederica Wilson (D-Fla.) has introduced a resolution to condemn the abduction of nearly 300 Nigerian school girls by the terrorist group Boko Haram.
“We in the international community must make it clear that all children deserve the chance to pursue an education without fear or harm. Attacking and abducting young girls who are pursuing an education is unconscionable and must never be tolerated,” Wilson said.
Boko Haram, an extremist group that opposes providing Western education to women, has threatened to sell the teenage girls into slavery. The girls have been missing for more than three weeks.
The resolution has support from members of both parties, including Reps. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.) and Chris Smith (R-N.J.).
The Senate passed a similar resolution by voice vote on Tuesday to denounce the kidnappings. Earlier Tuesday, the Obama administration announced that it would send a team of military personnel to assist in the search for the Nigerian schoolgirls.
“These young women could be our daughters, our sisters, our nieces – we must bring back our girls,” Wilson added.