Stakeholders from South-West have called for stronger legal framework and prosecution against those who practice Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in the region and in the country at large.
They made the call at a one-day training and engagement with law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, judiciary, and the Survivor-Centered Legal Aid for Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and FGM cases.
It was reported that FGM refers to all procedures involving partial or total removal of the female external genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons.
The practice is often carried out on young girls between infancy and age 15, declared by the United Nations as a violation of girls’ and women’s fundamental human rights, including their rights to health, security and dignity.
GBV is any violence committed against a person because of his or her sex or gender.
The one-day training was organized by Balm in Gilead Foundation for Sustainable Development (BIGIF), in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and Movement for Good to End FGM.
Mr ude Ogunlade, the Monitoring and Evaluation Officer for BIGIF said in his presentation: “Social, Cultural and Gender Dimension of FGM”, that GBV and FGM remained widespread in spite of efforts to eliminate the practices.
Ogunlade said deep-rooted socio-cultural norms and traditional practices continued to sustain, justify and normalise harmful practices.
The officer added that the one-day engagement was to improve inter-agency coordination and effective use of designated courts for GBV and FGM cases and build practical skills for applying legal provisions and survivor-centred approaches.
He, therefore, said “all hands must be on deck towards taking the fight against Female Genital Mutilation to communities across the state.”
Bolanle Olufunmiloye, Chairperson of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA Nigeria), Ondo State branch, said genital mutilation or circumcision of the girl-child is prohibited in Ondo State.
Olufunmiloye said anyone caught in such act should be reported to nearest government health authorities, centers for credible examination and thereafter to law enforcement agencies for prosecution.
She said anybody caught performing any act of FGM has committed an offence and liable for conviction to a term of imprisonment not exceeding four ears or to a fine not exceeding N200,000 or both.
She noted that the judiciary should be sensitized about its roles to the rising cases of female genital mutilation in the state.
It was reported that Balm in Gilead Foundation for Sustainable Development (BIGIF) is a women and youth-led Non-Governmental Organization that focuses on healthy living and promotion of rights of women, children and youths.
The training was to equip participants with clear understanding of national and state-level laws towards protecting survivors, strengthening participants’ skills in handling cases with sensitivity, confidentiality and protection for survivors.