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• As UNICEF says 3% decrease in practice not enough
From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, has emphasized the urgent need to eliminate female genital mutilation (FGM) globally, particularly in Nigeria, where it is most prevalent.
Speaking at the annual technical consultation of the UNFPA-UNICEF Joint Programme on the Elimination of FGM, she urged all stakeholders to join forces in ending this inhumane practice by 2030.
The event, themed “Delivering the Global Promise,” brought together experts, activists, and stakeholders committed to eradicating this extreme form of violence against women and girls.
She noted that FGM is recognized as a human rights violation that limits opportunities for women and girls, inflicts pain and suffering, and erodes shared values of respect and equality. Nigeria has the highest absolute number of FGM survivors globally, accounting for about one-tenth of all FGM cases worldwide.
According to her “FGM limits opportunities for women and girls to exercise their rights, their bodily autonomy and realize their full potential. It inflicts pain, suffering, and lasting physical and emotional scars on our mothers, sisters, daughters, and friends.
“We cannot afford to turn a blind eye any longer to this inhumane practice . It is time for us to take a united stand against these acts of violence and injustice if we are make progress in elimination of FGM.”
Mrs. Tinubu emphasised that violence against women is not a women’s issue but a human issue that affects everyone and holds back societal progress.
She called for a united stand against FGM and urged policymakers to implement the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act and Gender Policy to protect women and girls from gender-based violence and other harmful practices.
To achieve this goal, The First Lady outlined several key strategies, including raising awareness, empowering survivors, advocating for policy change, engaging men and boys, and building partnerships with various organizations and groups. She also emphasized the importance of individual actions, stating that every person has the potential to create a ripple effect of transformation in their community and nation.
The First Lady concluded by committing to support the UNFPA-UNICEF Joint Programme and urging everyone to advocate for change, be champions for justice, and work towards a future free from FGM.
Also speaking, Nigeria’s Vice President, Kashim Shettima, assured of the country’s commitment to this cause, highlighting its recent appointment as a member of the global steering committee of the UNJP FGM.
He emphasized the need for a multi-faceted approach to combat FGM, including intensifying advocacy and awareness efforts, strengthening legal frameworks, engaging with local leaders, providing support to survivors, enhancing education, and fostering collaboration.
He noted that FGM is a grave violation of human rights that inflicts physical and psychological harm, hinders education and economic opportunities, and perpetuates gender inequality.
He called on all stakeholders to work together to end this harmful practice and create a society where women and girls can live free from fear and harm.
“There’s no excuse for gender-based violence, there’s no reason that young girls should suffer genital mutilation, there’s no place for the early or forced marriage of children. These traditions may go back centuries; they have no place in the 21st century. Whether intended or not”, he said.
Continuing the VP said: “Today, we stand with communities here and around the globe working to prevent FGM. We call on women and girls, their families, teachers, health workers, community and religious leaders, and government officials to act together to make a difference. It’s time to put an end to this harmful practice, and to allow communities everywhere to meet their full potential by enabling women and girls to meet theirs.
“Let us envision a future where every girl and woman in Nigeria can live free from the fear and harm of FGM. Let us strive for a society where they can fully realize their potential, contribute to the development of our nation, and live with dignity and respect.
“Together, let us commit to the elimination of FGM and work tirelessly towards a brighter, safer, and more equitable Nigeria”, he said.
The Coordinating Minister of Health, Ali Pate, on his part reaffirmed the country’s commitment to eradicating Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) through a comprehensive strategy that involves raising awareness, policy formulation, strengthening partnerships, and resource mobilization.
He emphasised the importance of empowering frontline service providers in the fight against FGM.
“We will work with communities and civil society organizations to create safe spaces, foster resilience, and ensure survivors have access to comprehensive medical, legal, and psychological services,” he said.
To achieve this goal, he assured that the government will develop policies and guidelines that are not only gender-sensitive but also gender-transformative. “We must work with the rights holders to ensure that our policies are responsive to their needs,” Pate emphasized, adding “We must be held accountable as duty-bearers.”
He added, “We will work to ensure synergy between traditional and conventional laws and policies, ensuring no one is left behind.”
According to Pate, “As a country, we must mobilize resources to ensure that our frontline workers are systematically enabled to manage the multisectoral needs of survivors while also advocating for prevention and protection,” he said.
The United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, Mohamed Fall, highlighted the urgency and complexity of eliminating female genital mutilation (FGM) at the Annual Technical Consultation UNFPA-UNICEF Joint Program on the Elimination of FGM.
He said UNFPA-UNICEF Joint Programme is the largest global initiative in collaboration with governments and communities to end FGM, adding that it has made significant strides in addressing and mitigating violence and harmful practices against women and girls in Nigeria and globally.
Represented by Country Representative of WHO, Dr Walter Mulombo; Fall explainer that the programme has built a national movement grounded in youth leadership and survivors to disrupt the social systems that uphold FGM, and it has promoted and enabled family and community environments to identify, refer, and support survivors of FGM.
He noted that Nigeria holds a unique global position in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 2030 due to its vast population.
He applauded the fact that the Government of Nigeria has demonstrated unwavering commitment to fostering an enabling environment through the passage and enforcement of crucial legislation, such as the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act 2015, and the implementation of the National FGM Policy and Action Plan and state-specific action plans for eliminating FGM.
Fall assured that the UN remains committed to sustaining these gains and collaborating to eradicate these harmful practices.
The UNFPA-UNICEF Joint Programme on the elimination of FGM in Nigeria has enrolled over six million participants and has advanced the Joint Programme’s strategy of expanding opportunities for girls’ and women’s agency.
He said the programme has also strengthened governance to end FGM at national, state, local government, and community levels; enhanced the capacity of rights-holders and duty-bearers; and bridged the gap between evidence generation and the uptake of research to end FGM in Nigeria.
Fall concluded by saying the UN System in Nigeria looks forward to continuing its fruitful collaboration in ending FGM by 2030 and that it remains steadfast in its commitment to ending these practices through collaborative efforts like the UN Joint Program on Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).
“In closing, let us remember that our work transcends borders. It is a collective responsibility—one that unites us across continents and cultures. Together, we can create a world where FGM is eliminated, gender equality prevails, and the rights and well-being of women and girls are safeguarded.”
UNICEF’s Chief of Child Protection, Ibrahim Sesay, emphasized the importance of the meeting, stating that it is crucial to double efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) of ending FGM and other harmful practices.
He noted that while there has been a decrease in FGM prevalence in Nigeria, with a three percent drop over eight to ten years, more work is needed to achieve the goal.
Sesay highlighted the significant challenge posed by FGM, but expressed optimism that it can be overcome with substantial investment and political commitment. He emphasized the importance of enforcing legal frameworks to combat the practice, citing the success of such efforts in the past.
He noted that in the case of Nigeria, there has been a decrease in prevalence of FGM with about three per cent over a period of eight to 10 years.
He added, “So, which means that we really need to double our efforts if we are supposed to really achieve SDG pertaining to ending FGM and other harmful practices.
“It is a very huge challenge, but it’s doable, because it has been proven that with significant investment and political commitment, the enforcement of the legal frameworks that we have is doable.”
In attendance were representatives from Burkina Faso, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Mali, Mauritania, Senegal, Somalia, Sudan and Uganda, Yemen, Indonesia, Liberia, Chad, Tanzania, Sierra Leone, Niger among others.
