Nigeria’s Minister of Women Affairs, Hajia Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, has called for collective action to end Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), describing it as a fundamental breach of human dignity and a significant impediment to sustainable development.
This call to action comes as Nigeria grapples with the highest burden of FGM, affecting 19.9 million women and girls .
According to the National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) 2018, the prevalence rate of FGM among women aged 15-49 is 20%.
The minister said that the physical, psychological, and socioeconomic consequences of FGM are profound and far-reaching, hindering Nigeria’s progress towards key sustainable goals.
She noted that to combat FGM, the Ministry has outlined a multi-sectoral strategy, including:
- Advocacy and Engagement: An advocacy walk to the National Assembly to engage lawmakers on strengthening legal frameworks to criminalize and eliminate FGM.
- Community Outreach: Engaging community leaders, religious leaders, and policymakers on the urgency of abandoning FGM.
- Support and Services: Providing medical and psychological care to FGM survivors and supporting health workers who provide such treatment.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Maryam Ismaila Keshinro, stated that FGM is a public health problem with no health benefits, causing severe bleeding, infection, childbirth complications, and long-term psychological trauma.
The fight against FGM has received support from various organizations, including the Federal Ministry of Health, UNFPA, UNICEF, UN WOMEN, WAVE Foundation, and NCWS.
With collective action and a commitment to eliminating FGM, Nigeria can make significant progress towards protecting the rights and dignity of its women and girls.
