Agency The Federal Government, United Nations Population Fund and United Nations Children’s Fund have re-committed to ending Female Genital Mutilation in Nigeria by 2030. They made the commitment on Tuesday in Abuja at the Annual Technical Consultative Meeting of the UNFPA–UNICEF Joint Programme on Elimination of FGM. The meeting was themed ‘Delivering the Global Promise’.
FGM is a practice that involves altering or injuring the female genitalia for non-medical reasons. Emphasising the FG’s stance about the practice, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, said Nigeria remains committed to its regional and international promise to uphold the dignity of women and girls.
” Represented by a Director in the ministry’s Health Department, Dr John Ovuoraye, Pate said “Federal Government undoubtedly sees FGM as a human rights violation. “FGM is a severe violation of the rights to health, security and physical integrity, the right to be free from torture, cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment, right to freedom from discrimination and the right to life of women and girls.” The minister also said that FGM must be addressed for the attainment of SDG Five, especially target 5.
1, aimed at ending all forms of discrimination against women and girls everywhere. “Target 5:3 aims to eliminate all harmful practices, such as child, early and forced marriage and FGM, while target 5.6 is to ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive heal.
