Group Seeks Lawmakers’ Intervention Against Genital Mutilation

In an attempt to tackle the challenges hindering the implementation and operationalisation of the Oyo State Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law 2020, the Trailblazer Initiative Nigeria has sought for the support and intervention of the state’s lawmakers to end Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).

The group, with support from UNICEF Nigeria at a one-day Policy Advocacy Dialogue with parliamentarians, government officials, academia, and services providers on tackling Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), child marriage, and other forms of gender-based violence held in Ibadan made the call for parliamentary intervention to save millions of girls and women in Nigeria who were at risk and living with the lifelong consequence of female genital mutilation.

The executive director of Trailblazer Initiative Nigeria; Dr Dare Olagoke-Adaramoye  explained that,’’ The 2018 Nigeria Demographic Health Survey (NDHS) revealed that the national prevalence of FGM among women age 15-49 was 20 per cent, saying the National FGM prevalence amongst 0-14 years was 19.2 per cent, while it was 8.2 per cent in Oyo State.

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‘’According to preliminary findings from the baseline Situation Assessment on FGM Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice (KAP) study, which was conducted prior to the start of the UNIFPA/UNICEF Joint Programme on the Elimination of FGM in Oyo State in 2015, Kajola LGA had a 98 per cent prevalence of FGM, while Ibarapa North had an 89.3 per cent prevalence among women aged 15-49 years.’’

He revealed that since 2018, there had been concerted efforts by government and development partners towards the elimination of FGM in Oyo state.

Olagoke-Adaramoye pointed out that in 2020, Oyo State government domesticated the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law, in addition to two other laws that previously existed in the state, but unfortunately there has been low reportage of cases and zero prosecution.

He added that despite concerted efforts to end FGM, the practice still persists and would need to be accelerated in order to meet the target of zero FGM cases by 2030, this why UNICEF Nigeria is partnering with Trailblazer Initiative Nigeria in order to meet this target.