UNICEF WANTS SUSTAINED EFFORT TO END FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION AND CUTTING.

On the occassion of this year’s International Day Against Female Genital Mutilation,FGM, the chief, United Nations Children’s Fund,UNICEF,Enugu Field Office,Dr Ibrahim Conteh wants concerted and well funded action to end this Human Rights violation.

Dr Conteh regretted that female genital mutilation and cutting remains wide spread in the country with Imo and Ebonyi states having the highest burden of FGM in the country,at sixty-one point seven and fifty-three point two percent.

Dr Conteh said UNICEF would continue to engage governments,community leaders as well as other stakeholders to end this horrific violence against women and children.

Also speaking,the Enugu state Commissioner for Gender Affairs and Social Development,Princess Peace Nnaji noted that the ministry had sustained campaign against the practice,especially in rural areas.

Princess Nnaji maintained that with the signing of the Child Rights Act into law by Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi,harmful practices against children including female genital mutilation were prohibited.

The theme of this year’s International Day Against Female Genital Mutilation is, “No Time for Global inaction:Unite,Fund and Act to End Female Genital Mutilation”.