A group, Side by Side Movement for Gender Justice, on Monday lamented the high prevalence of female genital mutilation in Ekiti State despite the existence of a law against it in the state and the nation.
The group’s national coordinator, Mr Vincent Dania, who praised the Ekiti State government for its awareness programs and efforts to steer FGM practitioners away from the practice, said it was time for the law enforcement forces the culprits to face the music in order to end it.
Dania spoke to Ado Ekiti during a panel discussion and film premiere, ‘Royal Decree’ in collaboration with the African Center for Leadership, Strategy and Development and Christian Aid as part of the ways to raise awareness of the dangers inherent in the continued practice of FGM.
The coordinator, who urged stakeholders to join government in eradicating the threat in society, said, “Our goal is for the film to inspire state stakeholders to take action in their respective communities and groups to put end to FGM.
“From the reports we have, FGM is endemic in Ekiti and we need to act by advocating for it to stop. There is a law in the state, but it needs to be enforced for people to see the danger and abandon the outdated practice of female circumcision.
He said the group would soon begin advocacy visits to traditional and religious leaders in communities across the state’s 16 local government areas.
Rita Ilevbare, an advocate and director of the Ekiti State Sexual Orientation Centre, who said science has proven there is no benefit to cutting out female organs, called the Ekiti and even Nigerians to end this practice.
Ilevbare said the Ekiti State Governor’s wife, Mrs. Bisi Fayemi, introduced a series of interventions where some practitioners gave up their tools and were financially empowered to focus on other businesses instead. of the law on FGM.
She said: “People say it helps our daughters to avoid promiscuity, but I can tell you that Ekiti has teenage pregnancies and female genital mutilation, this act hasn’t worked.
Ilevbare said Section 7 of the Ekiti State Gender Based Violence (Prohibition) Act 2019 clearly prohibits circumcision or genital mutilation, adding that the government will continue its efforts to eradicate the practice in the state. State.
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