UNICEF Condemns Female Genital Cutting

Ikenna Orioha

United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, has condemned Female Genital Mutilation, Cutting and Massaging.

UNICEF said the practice is obnoxious, as it violates the rights of women and girls who are subjected to the danger and misery hence advocates for total end to Female Genital Circumcision.

The call to end the menace was made by UNICEF through its Chief Field Officer, Dr Ibrahim Conteh during an interview with newsmen on a One- Day Zonal Media Dialogue in Commemoration of 2020 International Day of Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting in South East, held at Bayview Hotel, Independence Layout, Enugu, Enugu State, on Wednesday.

UNICEF which said it joined the World in marking the 2020 International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation with the theme, “Unleashing Youth Power”, noted that “this year’s FGM is seeking active youth’s participation in the fight against the obnoxious and harmful FGM practice, with huge focus on mobilizing youths for the elimination of harmful FGM practices”.

UNICEF while calling for a permanent stop of the practice of female genital cutting which is predominantly practiced in Africa to avoid endangering lives of females, regretted that such a practice violates rights of women and girls.

Dr. Conteh disclosed that UNICEF is using the opportunity to urge stakeholders to intensify steps towards stopping the obnoxiously harmful practice of women and girls genital mutilation by adopting coordinated and systematic efforts, promoting policies and positive action, engaging communities with focus on human rights, gender equality, sexual education and attention to the needs of women and girls who it frowned suffer from the consequences of female genital cutting.

UNICEF parleying with journalists, brainstorming on positive ways to ending female genitalia cutting, mutilation and massaging, during the 2020 Worldday for Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation, held at Bayview Hotel, Enugu, Enugu State, recently

In his lecture, Ezinwa Chidi, Department of Mass Communication, ESUT, Enugu, advised journalists to enlighten people especially those at the rural areas of the dangers of female genital cutting so that the practice stops or reduces, saying 19% of females in Igbo society are subjected to the practice.

Just as Dr Hilary Ozo, a resource person, in his presentation, told government to make laws and policies that can eliminate the practice of female genital mutilation.

Ozo added that the practice always has negative result which destabilises the society that richly indulges in it, describing FGM as “a sensitive, taboo and sometimes highly political and perceived religious issue that goes to the heart of gender identity and gender relations…”

Reiterating the commitment of UNICEF to stopping FGM and encouraging girls education, Ijeoma Onuoha-Ogwe, Communication Officer, UNICEF, Enugu State, said engaging youths for the fight against female gentile mutilation means a way forward for the society, noting that UNICEF already has Child’s Rights Club in some schools, stressing that FGM must be eradicated.

Sir Anyaso Anyaso, Director- General, Broadcasting Corporation of Abia State, maintained that BCA is proud to partner UNICEF to bring together journalists and media practitioners to brainstorm on expected media roles to tackling female genital cutting.

Secondary School girls who participated in the program, vowed to relate to their fellow students of the lesson learnt to help stop the ugly practice of female genital mutilation.

Notably, female genital circumcision, which has been an old ugly traditional practice across Africa, Asia and Diaspora, comprises all procedures which involve altering, injuring the female genitalia for non- medical reasons and is recognized internationally as the violation of human rights, the health and the integrity of women and girls.

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