The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has called for a multi-sectoral approach to end Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in Nigeria, saying it will safeguard the health of millions of women and girls in the country.
Speaking on Wednesday at the opening of a two-day media dialogue organised by Oyo State Ministry of Information and Orientation in partnership with UNICEF, Celine Lafoucriere, Chief of UNICEF Lagos Field Office, said the harmful practice of FGM must be curbed in Nigeria.
She stated that a collaborative and multi-sectoral approach that is all-inclusive can end the practice, stressing that stakeholders like law enforcement agents, legislators, judicial officers, traditional rulers, religious leaders and men must be carried along.
She added that ending FGM should be the top priority for sub-nationals, even as the federal government has taken up the gauntlet and is working to achieve the objective with policy and initiatives.
She said, “The good news is that change can happen through collaboration, like the movement and initiative led by the federal government in collaboration with UNICEF.
“Millions of Nigerian people have already pledged to protect girls from being cut. Survivors are leading the way, and young people are demanding a better future.”
While emphasising the role of survivors and young people in the effort to end FGM in Nigeria, Lafoucriere called on the media to amplify the voices of survivors for more impact and effectiveness.
She said the power of the media to reach the grassroots and shape opinions is critical to the effort, calling on practitioners to do more in terms of advocacy and support.
“This is where the media comes in to amplify survivors’ voices and challenge harmful practices and to inspire families to choose differently for their daughters.
“Use your reach, platforms and creativity to ensure that every single girl in Nigeria is free from FGM,” the UNICEF Chief urged.
In his presentation, Dennis Onoise, Child Protection Specialist, UNICEF Lagos Office, said FGM hurts and imposes lifelong health risks on women and girls, putting them through a lot of physical and psychological trauma.
He noted that, “Despite its cultural importance, Female Genital Mutilation has potential short and long term medical complications just as it harms the reproductive health and infringes on women’s rights.”
He said preventing FGM brings benefits not only to the women and girls but also to their immediate families and communities as a whole.
An FGM consultant, Aderonke Olutayo, in her presentation, decried the low awareness level of the law against FGM and the rights of women and girls in Nigeria generally.
She stressed that gaps like that, as well as the proliferation of unjustifiable myths and misconceptions, fuel the practice of FGM in most communities.
She said, “Many are unaware of the Violence Against Persons and Prohibition Act and the Child Rights Act. A lot more people don’t even know that cutting a girl is a punishable offence.
“In many communities, FGM is viewed as a rite of passage and considered a marital requirement, and because it is deeply rooted in culture and tradition, it is seen as a way to preserve purity as well as control the woman’s sexuality and ensure her fidelity to her man.“
Also speaking on the role of the media, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and Orientation in Oyo State, Rotimi Babalola, emphasised the need for professionals to continue to raise awareness about FGM and educate the grassroots.
He urged journalists to be sensitive in their reportage of FGM stories to avoid traumatising survivors by making them relive the unpleasant experience all over again.
“Let me commend you for what you have been doing, but I will urge you to do more for this worthy cause so we can effectively end Female Genital Mutilation in the southwest states and Edo state, including all the other states covered by UNICEF,” he added.
The two-day Media Dialogue to support advocacy to end Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in Nigeria was held in Benin City, Edo state, bringing together experts, advocates and media stakeholders from across the country.