Tuesday 6 February 2018

Obaseki Calls for Elimination of Female Genital Mutilation

Lauretta Omosogha
Governor of Edo State, Obaseki
The Governor of Edo State, Mr Godwin Obaseki, has called for intercontinental partnership to eliminate Female Genital Mutilation where it is still practised in the state.

Obaseki made this clarion call in Benin City during the commemoration of the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation marked on February 6 annually.



According to him, the campaign to eliminate the age-old harmful practice should be revitalised with inputs from the traditional and religious institutions, women groups, alternative medicine practitioners, members of the political class, the organised private sector and civil society organisations.

The governor, however, advised that the reinvigoration of the campaign to end Female Genital Mutilation should leverage on the power of education and the reach of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in changing mindsets, beliefs and convictions.

In line with this, the United Nations explains that FGM comprises all procedures that involve altering or injuring the female genitalia for non-medical reasons and is recognised internationally as a violation of the human rights of girls and women.

The global body further added that FGM “reflects deep-rooted inequality between the sexes, and constitutes an extreme form of discrimination against women and girls. The practice, also, violates their rights to health, security and physical integrity, their right to be free from torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, and their right to life when the procedure results in death.”

Obaseki continued that it was time to end the pains, agonies and the needless deaths that arise from female genital mutilation where the practice is still rife.

He tasked the media to put the subject matter on the front burner, as “it is a matter of human right.”

The governor decried the risk associated with this harmful practice against the girl child. “We are hit with front page stories on politics and the economy daily. FGM deserves similar regular press coverage, to sensitise people about the health risks associated with the practice and emphasise the fact that it is an act of violence against the girl child and women in general."

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) with United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) leads the largest global programme to accelerate the abandonment of FGM. The programme currently focuses on 17 African countries and also supports regional and global initiatives.

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