BY EMMANUEL CHUKWUMA, ENUGU.
The Federal Government, United Nations International Children’s Education Fund (UNICEF), and Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma have promised to fight against the practice of female genital mutilation (FGM) in the country.
They enjoined parents, traditional rulers, religious leaders, law enforcement agencies, civil society organizations, and development partners to come on board to fight the harmful practice.
Speaking in Owerri during the
commemoration of the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), organized by the Office of the First Lady Imo State, Barr. (Mrs.) Chioma Uzodimma, in collaboration with the United Nations International Children’s Education Fund (UNICEF), the Federal Government affirmed the commitment to eliminate menace in the society.
In her address, Minister of Women Affairs Hajia Imaan Suleiman-Ibrahim maintained that “FGM is not a tradition to be preserved. It is a grave violation of human rights, a brutal form of gender-based violence, and a serious public health crisis which should not be encouraged.”
The Minister regretted that Nigeria is ranked the third-highest number in FGM globally, which she said was unacceptable, and challenged all to step up the fight against FGM.
“We must break the cycle of harmful traditions and protect our daughters from violation.”
The minister called on State governments, traditional rulers, community leaders, civil society organizations, the media, and every Nigerian to take a stand and end female genital mutilation now.
The Minister reaffirmed that her office is working towards strengthening the VAPP and Child Rights Act laws in increasing, creating public awareness, and fostering grassroots advocacy, hinting that presently the 35 states and the FCT have adopted the VAPP Act, which criminalizes FGM.
While stressing that full nationwide enforcement remains a priority, she called for a larger vision to empower and protect women and the girl-child and disclosed that the World Bank had supported Nigeria for Women Scale-Up Project, just as she said that the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs had commenced the implementation aimed at empowering 4.5 million women.
In his goodwill message, the Chief Child Protection Officer of UNICEF, Ibrahim Sise, reiterated that Nigeria ranks third in FGM globally, adding that significant change has not occurred in Imo State, hence the need for greater sensitization and campaign.
He challenged all to join hands to ensure the total eradication of FGM practices in Imo State and commended the Office of the Imo State First Lady for rising to the occasion.
Mr. Ibrahim Sesay says the theme: “Stepping Up the Pace: Strengthening Alliances and Building Movements to End FGM is a clarion call to examine our beliefs, challenge harmful traditions, and remain in a future where every girl’s body is respected, and everyone’s dignity is sacrosanct.
He said over 230 million girls and women worldwide have undergone FGM/C. Nigeria has the highest number of FGM/C survivors globally, with an estimated 19.9 million women affected. He said specific Imo state, it stands at 49.7 percent in terms of prevalence among girls aged 0-14, which is above the national average of 8.2 percent.
He noted that the majority of the children who are cut are within 60 days after birth.
He disclosed that UNICEF, alongside other sister agencies, aligns with the Vision 2030 agenda of sustainable development goals in total elimination of FGM practice.
“In Nigeria, we enjoin the program initiated in 2014 in high prevalence states, but unfortunately, significant changes, as you have seen, have not really occurred in Imo state. So, all hands must be on deck to increase our efforts in ending the FGM in the state.”
He urged girls, women, youths, survivors, communities, governments, CSOs, and all relevant organizations and actors to step up action. “It further represents a clarion call for all stakeholders in Nigeria and Imo state in particular to fast-track intervention that will eliminate the practice of FGM.
He commended the Governor’s Forum and Nigeria First Ladies of various states for championing the campaign to end the harmful practice of FGM.
He said this had yielded significant results in creating awareness and building effective collaborations, and a significant milestone was achieved in 2003 through the Ministry of Women’s Affairs and technical working groups in collaboration with UNICEF.
“We were able to establish a movement for good to end the FGM. This was facilitated by 10 male organizations, and we successfully recorded 6.5 million pledges from five states in terms of ending FGM and Scaling up intervention, and grassroots mobilizing girls, especially in those filer states.”
In his remarks, the Governor called for an urgent domestication of war against FGM Programmes, maintaining that the domestication should be taken to rural communities where the Traditional Rulers and all Stakeholders will play a role in bringing FGM to an end in Imo.
The Governor regretted that the rate of FGM is high in Imo and urged parents to take the chunky of blame for the malaise.
Admonishing them to abhor such practices and work to stop FGM now, he reiterated, however, that it is the responsibility of all concerned to fight to end the old practice in the 21st century.
“‘There is a new digital order in the 21st century that abhors those cultures and traditions that are not kind to mankind.
There is no other way to fight FGM outside such gatherings like this that brings all together,” he said, emphasizing that “when there will be such gathering next year in Imo State, there will be zero tolerance.”
“We are almost there, and we must succeed.”
Governor Uzodimma also thanked UNICEF and other agencies for their support and partnership with the Office of Imo State First Lady on the matter.
In her keynote address, the First Lady of Imo State, Barr. (Mrs.) Chioma Uzodimma informed that the program was aimed at creating awareness as well as a “clarion call to action.”
“Too many girls and women continue to endure this deeply harmful practice every day,” she said, noting, “this year’s theme is apt – “Step Up the Pace: Strengthening Alliances and Building Movements to End FGM.”
Mrs. Uzodimma reaffirmed her unwavering commitment to ending FGM in Imo State and Nigeria at large, regretting that Nigeria has the third-highest number of women and girls who have undergone FGM globally.
The Imo First Lady called for increased awareness of the medical consequences and its severe and long-lasting trauma and noted that “education is the most potent weapon to stem FGM in the State.”
She commended the Governor for his consistent commitment to advancing the rights and well-being of women and the girl-child in Imo State and thanked the strategic partners – UNICEF and other developmental partners – for their support and fight against FGM.
In his goodwill message, the APC National Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, commended the visionary leadership of Governor Uzodimma and his wife for recognizing the importance of fighting the menace of bad cultural issues.
He pointed out that such social programs should be entrenched in the communities where moderation and changes can be made in their culture and called for an awareness campaign to stop FGM, especially among the rural populace.
In his message, the Imo State Commissioner of Police, Aboki Danjuma, who was represented, said the Police are prepared to protect the rights of women and the girl-child and charged all to desist from any form of FGM, which he said runs contrary to the laws of the Fethe Federal Republic of Nigeria.
