By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan
Executive Director, HACEY health initiative, Ms Rhoda Robinson has declared that over 20 million women and girls living in Nigeria have been subjected to Female Genital Mutilation, (FGM).
This was contained in a paper at an enlightenment programme tagged ” The Stopcut Project, Partnering to end Female Genital Mutilation, held at Ibadan Business School as parts of activities marking the 2021 International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.
According to her, Female Genital Mutilation ” is a violation ” of the women and girls rights to ” health, right to life , right to be free from torture and cruelty amongst others, adding, “Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) comprises of all procedures that involve partial or total removal of the external female genitalia, or other injury to the female genital organs for non medical reasons”
” Over 20 million women and girls living in Nigeria have been subjected to this harmful practice which is a violation of their right to health, right to life, right to be free from torture and cruelty amongst others”, she said.
Robinson added, ” FGM leads to a variety of risks and complications affecting women and girls’ physical, mental and sexual health throughout her life course”
She pointed out that some of these risks ranges from ” mild to life threatening including severe and chronic pain, excessive bleeding, ( hemorrhage), shock, genital tissue swelling, infections, reproductive health issues, child birth complications, anxiety disorder and depression”.
On activities of HACEY Initiative, Robinson said, it promotes the effective implementation of laws and policies that protect women and girls from Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), and increases community engagement and advocacy towards ending FGM
” The project works in local communities in the highest FGM prevalence states in Southwest Nigeria to reach policymakers, state governments, law enforcers, the media, religious and Community leaders, women and girls, men and boys as stakeholders in advocating for an end to female genital mutilation”.
