Group kicks against Female Genital Mutilation

From Fisayo Akinduro, Osogbo
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A group under the agies of Society for Life Changers and Good Parental Care (SOLIFE), has charged  stakeholders in Osun state to beef up campaign against Female Genital Mutilation and Circumcision, (FGM\C) with the creation of community awareness to eradicate the practices.

Chairman, Board of Trustees of the group, Mr Stephen Aremu gave the charge this at the opening ceremony of the three days training on creating community awareness to eliminate Female Genital Mutilation and Circumcision FGM/C in Osogbo.

He noted that Osun state is number one on the hierarchy of the six FGM\C most endemic states.

Aremu stated that championing the intensive advocacy against female circumcision is to sensitize the people of the state on the dangers and disadvantages of female genital mutilation and to discourage the practice made paramount, based on the health risk associated with the practice.

He added that Female Genital Mutilation and Circumcision expose its victims to HIV and other health implications which ranges from dangerous infections arising from unsanitary conditions, severe bleeding as well as pain and trauma.

Aremu who posited that FGMIC is also a violation of fundamental human rights, disclosed how to access data about gender and FGM\C usefulness, analysis, identification, familiarization with existing laws, work-plan and tracking tools, and strategies needed to be used in their communities in the campaign against the act.

The BOT Chairman stated that, aside FGMIC being a serious human rights violation of women and girls, and its grave health consequences, the Osun State Government has enacted a law in 2002 for the elimination of Female Genital Mutilation/ Circumcision, and as such it is necessary that the practice be totally eliminated in the state.