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Female genital mutilation (FGM), also known as female genital cutting and female circumcision, is every procedure that involves the partial or total removal of the external female genitalia. Rooted in gender inequality, the practice attempts to control women's sexuality, purity, modesty and beauty with reckless abandon.
With gender equality being one of the items on the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goal list, the Cross River State Government through the Ministry of International Development/ Global Donor Cooperation in partnership with the United Nation’s Population Fund (UNFPA), yesterday commemorated the campaign to end FGM in Nigeria.
According to the MIDC Commissioner, Dr. Inyang Asibong, “in Nigeria, women aged between 15-49yrs (24.8%) have undergone some sort of FGM, and are exposed to the short or long term health complications of this practice.
Nigeria accounts for 20 million out of the 200 million women living today in 30 countries, with Africa accounting for 27 countries.
As a result, the Cross River State Government is working alongside UNFPA to ensure the abolishment of this practice through the deployment of human rights, gender-equality and culturally sensitive approach in a consortium program involving UNICEF as well.”
The event is celebrated on the 6th of February every year, and the theme of this year’s celebration is Unleashing Youth Power: One decade of actions to eradicate Female Genital Mutilation.
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