AfriPulse
Says practice endangers lives
Urges S’west states to abandon practice
The United Nations Children’s Fund [UNICEF], on Wednesday, called for outright abandonment of Female Genital Mutilation [FGM], saying that nearly 20 million women and girls in Nigeria have undergone FGM.
It warned that the practice endangers the lives of girls and women.
The Child Protection Specialist, UNICEF Lagos Office, Dennis Onoise, made the call during a two-day media dialogue to support advocacy to end Female Genital Mutilation, which is ongoing at Vickics Gate Hotels, Benin City, the Edo State capital.
The programme, which focuses on ‘’Accelerating Actions to Eliminate Harmful Practices against Women and Girls”, draws journalists, civil society organisations and other participants from Oyo, Osun, Ondo, Ekiti, Ogun, and Edo States. The Oyo State Government is the implementing partner of the project.
Speaking, Chief of UNICEF Lagos Field Office, Celine Lafoucriere, said over 20 million women and girls in Nigeria have undergone FGM.
She said: “Your presence here shows that ending FGM is urgent and achievable. Over 20 million women and girls in Nigeria have undergone FGM. It’s the third highest globally. Most of them were cut before their fifth birthday, when they are completely powerless, when they can’t consent, reject or understand what is happening. Despite being outlawed in Nigeria, the practice continues in many states. It continues by myth and tradition.”
Onoise disclosed that Nigeria is the third biggest country in the world that practices Female Genital Mutilation [FGM].
She said, “FGM has no health benefit. It will not stop promiscuity. It would deny a lady the full benefit of her body. It can lead to medical complications. If the cutting is not properly done, it would affect urine, which is dangerous. It is a gender-based violence. Many communities are into it. If we continue to mobilise people, there would be more reduction.”
He, therefore, sought the support of all stakeholders to stop the practice.
“We are asking for the total abandonment of this practice,’’ he said.
In her remarks, FGM consultant, Mrs Aderonke Olutayo, stated that by cutting the girl child, “you have rendered the woman powerful and violent. It is a harmful traditional practice.”
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information, Oyo State, Mr Rotimi Babalola, urged the media to intensify their support in reporting issues aimed at putting an end to the harmful practice.
Babalola said: “Today, it’s about the critical stakeholders here, the media. Because we are the people who set the agenda for society to follow. So we are very critical of this FGM elimination campaign. I will just appeal that we need to put extra effort into this campaign, so that in all the seven states in the UNICEF office, we totally eliminate FGM.”
Source: Guardian Nigeria | Read the Full Story…
