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House of Representatives has passed for first reading a bill seeking four years jail term or a fine of N200,000 for anyone convicted for engaging in Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).
The bill sponsored by Ganiyu Johnson is seeking to amend the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, 2015 to increase the penalty for FGM.
Johnson, in his lead debate, noted the proposed legislation seeks to amend Section 6(2) of the principal Act to provide that “any person who performs female circumcision or genital mutilation or engages another to carry out such circumcision or mutilation commits an offence, and is liable, on conviction, to a term of imprisonment not exceeding five years or to a fine not exceeding one million naira or to both”.
He said if the amendment scales through, it would help to serve as a deterrent to persons engaging in the practice.
The lawmaker said: “A UNICEF survey recently revealed that in Nigeria, one out of four girls and one out of 10 boys suffer from sexual molestation, and about one out of 10 children will be sexually abused before their 18th birthday. Among factors that encourage the commission of such unwholesome practices like female genital mutilation is lack of adequate sanctions.
“Female genital mutilation, also known as female circumcision, excision or genital cutting, comprises all procedures that involve partial or total removal of the external female genitalia, or other injuries to the genital organs for non-medical reasons, mostly carried out between infancy and age 15.
“The procedure has no health benefits for girls and women. Because it is usually performed without permission and often against will, it violates girls’ right to make important decisions about their sexual and reproductive health. Reports show that 200 million girls and women alive today have undergone a form of genital mutilation (FGM).
“An additional 2 million girls could undergo female genital mutilation by 2030 as a result of COVID-19. It is for this reason that this Bill is proposed, to review the sanctions provided within the VAPP Act, so as to give it the required deterrence it deserves.”
