Group partners security agencies to end female genital mutilation
A non-governmental organisation, HACEY Health Initiative, has concluded plans to engage security agencies and other key stakeholders in a two-day interactive session as part of efforts to end Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in Oyo, Ekiti and Osun states.
The virtual conference tagged, ‘No Time for Global Inaction: Unite, Fund And Act Against FGM ‘ is scheduled to hold tomorrow and Saturday.
The Executive Director, HACEY Health Initiative, Rhoda Robinson, disclosed this in a statement issued and made available to the media.
According to the statement, the capacity building supported by Access Bank was designed to mark the United Nations International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation and also advocate total involvement of the law enforcement agencies in ensuring FGM free societies in earnest.
The statement also indicated that the conference would have in attendance, wife of the Ekiti State Governor, Mrs. Bisi Adeleye Fayemi, Oyo State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Bashir Bello; Her Royal Majesty, Queen Morenike Naomi and Country Director, UNFPA, Nigeria, Oluwaseyi Ulla Elisabeth Mueller.
Others include Commissioner of Police, Osun State Division, CP Olokode Olawale, representatives of Nigeria Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), South West Security Network Outfit, tagged, Amotekun Corps, among other security outfits in the country.
Rhoda said it was essential to incorporate security men in the crusade in order to accelerate the elimination of Female Genital Mutilation in their communities and also raise public awareness on the harmful practice.
The statement reads: “More than 50 million girls below 15 years of age are at risk of being subjected to Female Genital Mutilation if action is not taken to stop the practice by 2030.
“Some states in Nigeria have localised actions to sensitise, support and incentivise FGM excisors in a bid to put an end to FGM and also bring perpetrators to book”.
She noted that HACEY Health Initiative with support from UN Trust Fund and Spotlight Initiative is executing a three-year project to collaborate with stakeholders across government agencies, non-governmental organisations and local communities to end female genital mutilation in Ekiti, Oyo and Osun states, which according to her, the practice is prevalence.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN
