From Taiwo Oluwadare, Ibadan
Concerted efforts are being put in place to end the rising cases of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Nigeria and Trailblazer Initiative (TBI) Nigeria, are in the forefront, using the Movement for Good (M4Good) campaign to halt female genital mutilation.
Executive Director, TBI, Mr Dare Adaramoye, said: “M4Good is to increase the knowledge of FGM, mobilise, orientate and secure partnership of youths and women-led Community Based Organisations (CBOs) on FGM and to develop an action plan for M4Good partners.
“FGM can be described as all procedures that involve the partial or total removal of external genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons. The act is violence against the female body and a human rights violation.
“FGM brings complications such as intense pain, excessive bleeding, urinary inconvenience, difficulties during menstruation, clitoral neuroma and difficulties during sexual intercourse and childbirth.
“It violates a series of well established human rights principles, norms and standard such as right to freedom from torture or cruel inhuman or degrading treatment.
“M4Good is a community led undertaking to accelerate grassroots efforts to end FGM in Ebonyi, Ekiti, Imo, Osun and Oyo states.
“The movement will mobilise five million people who will pledge and act to end FGM in the five states.
“We call on people to join the movement and act to end FGM by visiting https://act2endfgm.com/rtbi to make pledge to end FGM online.
“TBI is currently implementing the community based activities on FGM in partnership with UNICEF Nigeria in Kajola and Iseyin local government areas of Oyo State asides our state level engagement to end FGM in the state.”
Director, Children Welfare, Ministry of Women Affairs, Oyo State, Mr Lateef Ariori, at an orientation on FGM, urged participants to advocate to religious and community leaders to denounce FGM and lead a collective action to abolish FGM practice. He told them to identify, report, respond and always refer FGM cases to appropriate authorities.
The meeting featured endorsement and signing of resolutions and development of a plan of action among others.