FGM: 3 million girls at the risk? Stop it!

It is on record that local communities, governments, national and international nongovernmental organizations have contributed immensely to reduce of the prevalence of female circumcision in many countries. But despite all these efforts, the practice remains widespread. Records reveal that between 1 and 100 and forty million women and girls worldwide have undergone female genital mutilation; […]

It is on record that local communities, governments, national and international nongovernmental organizations have contributed immensely to reduce of the prevalence of female circumcision in many countries. But despite all these efforts, the practice remains widespread. Records reveal that between 1 and 100 and forty million women and girls worldwide have undergone female genital mutilation; and three million girls are at risk of undergoing the procedure every year.
Medical experts highlight the damaging effect of female genital mutilation on the health of women, girls and newborn babies. These include bleeding, shock, chronic pain, infections, among others. Recent studies have indicated that women who have undergone FGM have higher risks of caesarean section at childbirth than others who did not go through the procedure. In Nigeria for example, many state governments have passed the Child Rights Act. The Act prohibits customary practices that violate international human rights law and standards, such as child marriage, child trafficking, etc. Female genital mutilation is a manifestation of unequal relations between the genders, with roots in deeply entrenched social, economic and political conventions.  The Child Rights Act implementation committees at national, state and local government levels in Nigeria should initiate actions that will ensure the provisions are widely disseminated for the target population to be aware of them and to be able to act accordingly.

AishatuTyabo Salihu, Department of Mass Communication, IBB University, Lapai, Niger State