SOUTH-EAST HAS HIGHEST FGM PREVALENCE IN NIGERIA— UNICEF LAMENTS
Reporter : EMEFIENA OKONKWO
Nigeria on Sunday joined the global community to mark International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). In 2012, the UN General Assembly designated February 6 as International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation. Though there have been successes in checking this harmful practice over the years, however, Female Genital Mutilation remains widespread in Nigeria, with an estimated 19.9% survivors.
Nigeria accounts for the 3rd highest number of women and girls, who have undergone FGM worldwide. Speaking during Zonal Media Dialogue in Enugu organized by United Nations’ Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in collaboration with Broadcasting Corporation of Abia State (BCA) as part of activities to mark the Day, the Officer in charge of UNICEF, Enugu Field Office, Mrs. Maureen Zubie-Okolo, noted that the South-East had the highest prevalence of Female Genital Mutilation is highest in Nigeria, with Imo State having the highest 62%.
Mrs. Zubie-Okolo urged parents and communities to stop the practice as FGM had no health benefits and deeply harmful to girls and women.
Interacting with participants, the Communications Officer, UNICEF, Enugu Field Office, Dr. Ijeoma Onuoha-Ogwe, and the Child Protection Specialist, UNICEF Enugu Field Office, Mr. Victor Atuchukwu, urged the participants, who were mostly journalists and media professionals to dedicate more programmes and reports to the dangers of Female Genital Mutilation to girls and women as well as the society at large. They noted that the media had critical roles to play in achieving a Nigeria safe for girls and women and finally free of FGM.
In other key presentations, two Child Rights advocates, Mrs. Ijeoma Ajanwachukwu and Mr. Godwin Igwe, explained that FGM was recognized internationally as a violation of the human rights of girls and women. The advocates stressed that FGM reflected deep-rooted inequality between the sexes and always carried out on children, which was a violation of children’s rights.
The participants condemning FGM as a threat to girl child education, health and aspirations, pledged to sensitize women & communities to the dangers of the practice. The theme of the 2022 International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation is “Accelerating Investment to End Female Genital Mutilation.”