Group Intensifies War against Female Genital Mutilation in Ekiti
Gbenga Sodeinde in Ado Ekiti
In view of what it’s described as an increasing Female Genital Mutilation, (FGM) in Ekiti State, a group, the HACEY Health Initiative, has taken the crusade against the act to local communities in the state.
The group, through a project called STOP CUT, was at Igbemo Ekiti in Irepoodun/Ifelodun Local Government Area to sensitise survivors and some community leaders on the menace of FGM.
The group, which is collaborating with key stakeholders such as the state Ministry of Health, traditional rulers, religious and community leaders, including the survivors of FGM, are strategising towards putting an end to the act in the state before 2030.
Speaking in Igbemo-Ekiti during the event organised in collaboration with the United Nations, UN Trust Fund, the Executive Director of Hacey, Rhoda Robinson, explained that the workshop became necessary in order to engage the people at the grassroots on the dangers in the practice of FGM in the society in a bid to stop the menace.
Represented by the state Coordinator of the group, Oluwanifemi Ayeni, Robinson stated that the cases of female mutilation mostly occurred in the rural areas, adding that there is need for the community leaders and survivors to lead the campaign against it.
While expressing regret over the prevalence of the criminal act in the state, the executive director maintained that the group would continue in its series of interventions by collaborating and forming alliance with selected individuals and community leaders who would in turn serve as focal points in the grassroots.
According to her, “The essence of what we are doing here is to sensitise our people in the community, especially the survivors on the dangers in FGM and how to stop it in our society.
“You know if survivors who were victims of this act come out to campaign against it at the grassroots; it will go in no small measure towards ending the menace in no distant future.
“Our aim is to use these people, including those we called FGM alliance team, to advocate against it and we are hoping to achieve desired results soon through them in this community.”
She pointed out that there is need for the state government to be decisive in its implementation of the existing laws against FGM, adding that the group would remain resolute in its drive towards ending the practice in the state.
An official of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mrs. Toyosi Eleyinmi, and that of the state Ministry of Women Affairs, Tolu Ogunniyi, explained that the negative effects of FGM practice on women and girls are enormous, calling for a stop to it in the interest of the society.
Eleyinmi described the practice as a
manifestation of gender inequality, abuse of human rights and a violation to women and girls, which she said could create instability in the system if not stopped.
On his part, Ogunniyi revealed that Ekiti State had enacted anti-FGM law since 2011, which was amended in 2019, saying the statute stipulates a fine of N200,000 or one year imprisonment for offenders, including enablers.
