Traditional rulers and religious leaders in Osun State have through their weight behind elimination of the practice of Female Genital Mutilation
They made the pledge in Osogbo, the Osun State capital at One-Day State Level Engagement with traditional rulers, religion leaders, women groups and other stakeholders on elimination of FGM practice.
The engagement was organised by United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) in collaboration with Child Rights Information Bureau (CRIB) of the Federal Ministry of Information.
Speaking on behalf of 29 traditional rulers that attended the meeting, the Alaagba of Aagba, Oba Rufus Olayinka Ogunwole agreed that Female Genital Mutilation has no benefit and pose danger to the survivors.
Also, the Chief Immam of Telemu, Immam Musa Raji who spoke on behalf of religious leaders in the state said they have realised that the practice was harmful and would be discouraged henceforth.
UNICEF Senior Programme Associate for Child Protection Section and Focal Point for the Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) programme, Mrs Phydelia Abbas said the prevalence rate of the practice was 78% in Osun in 2013 and that it has reduced to 45.9% in 2018 according to Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey.
Abbas encouraged stakeholders to accelerate campaign towards total elimination of the practice.
“We’ve recorded a lot of successes but we are not relenting our efforts because we believe that if we stop the intervention now, the number of girls or women who suffer will greatly increase”
“There is no medical advantage for the FGM, it is considered human rights violation as stated by CRC and other international instruments. There is no reason we should continue with the practice’ she said.
UNICEF FGM Consultant for South West, Mrs Aderonke Olutayo also said FGM was a violation of dignity and rights of girls and women in the society.
Olutayo said that the popular belief that FGM was being done to promiscuity in girls, preparing them for marriage, intimation into womanhood, among other reasons were false.
Quoting a World Health Organisation (WHO) data, Olutayo said $1.4 billion would be spent every year globally to cater for survivors and other matters relating to FGM if the practice continues.
She said engagement with the traditional rulers and religious leaders was because of their influence on their subjects and followers and urged them to be in the vanguard of the campaign against FGM practice.
“Traditional rulers are here because when they make a pronouncement, it will be binding on their subjects.
“Religious leaders are also here to help us to de-link FGM from religion injunction because the harmful practice is not in the Bible or the Quran”, Olutayo said.
At the end of the engagement, the traditional rulers denounced FGM and signed a communiqué.
