FGM Zero Tolerance Day: NHRC seeks collaboration to eradicate harmful, practices 

As Nigeria joined the rest of the world to commemorate the Day of Zero Tolerance for the Practice of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has reminded citizens, healthcare workers and other duty bearers of the need to strengthen their collaborations to end FGM in Nigeria.

The theme of this year’s commemoration was, “Stepping Up the Pace: Strengthening Alliances and Building Movements to End FGM” and it is observed on the 6th of February every year.

Executive Secretary of the Commission, Dr. Tony Ojukwu, stated this, Thursday in Abuja, noting that the Commission has always been at the forefront of eradicating the painful, unhealthy, harmful and degrading practice of FGM right from time.

 According to the press statement signed by the Director, Corporate Affairs and External Linkages, Hajiya Fatimah Agwai Mohammed, the NHRC helmsman observed that the collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and Civil Resource Development and Documentation Centre (CIRDDOC) had in 2017 produced a training manual on human rights and other related issues of FGM in Nigeria to stem the tide of this human rights violation in various communities across the federation.

“The Manual provides a general background analysis of women’s human rights and Female Genital Mutilation, which is a type of violence against women and girls. The Manual also provides a guide for reporting FGM in line with the prescribed standard,” Ojukwu added.

He further disclosed that, with the support of UNFPA/UNICEF, the Commission undertook a joint programme on elimination of FGM, conducted training for stakeholders on the use of the developed Manual in five programme focal states namely- Imo, Ebonyi, Osun, Oyo and Ekiti and available statistics have indicated positive changes geared towards eliminating, FGM in the country.

“The use of the manual and training will be replicated in other endemic states in the Country depending on the availability of resources.

“The participants at the training in the aforesaid states were drawn from relevant MDAs, CBOs, FBOs, Media, Security Agents, Traditional Rulers and CSOs/NGOs and at the end of the exercise, thereafter participants prepared independent and shadow reports,” the Executive Secretary stated.

He then, urged Nigerians to report all cases of FGM and other human rights violations to the Commission who will in turn take appropriate actions to ensure the protection of the rights of the victims in accordance with municipal, regional and international laws.