Female genital mutilation: Protect girl-child’s rights, vulnerability, First Lady tells parents

The wife of the President, Mrs. Oluremi Tinubu, has advised parents and guardians to protect the rights, vulnerability, and well-being of the girl- child in the country.

The first lady gave the advice in a statement issued on Tuesday in commemoration of the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), celebrated on February 6 annually.

Persecondnews reports that the theme of this year’s celebration is “Her Voice, Her Future: Investing in Survivor-Led Movements to End Female Genital Mutilation.”.

According to Mrs. Tinubu, the FGM commemoration is another reminder to parents and guardians of their responsibility to protect the rights of every girl child in Nigeria.

She raised concerns about the hazards and health implications of FGM among girl children as she called on the wives of governors to continue to support the fight against FGM.

She said: “We are once again reminded of the responsibility we bear to protect the rights, vulnerability, and well-being of the girl child.

“Today, I call upon parents, particularly mothers, traditional leaders, and community leaders, where female genital mutilation persists, to consider the damage and irreversible health implications inflicted on our daughters.

“While acknowledging the progress made in the fight against female genital mutilation in Nigeria, we must confront the practices that still persist, causing irreparable harm to our girls.

“I commend all our first ladies of states, other non-governmental organizations, civil society organisations, and health care professionals for lending their voices to the fight against female genital mutilation across the entire nation.

“As we collectively strive for the full eradication of female genital mutilation in Nigeria by 2030, let all hands be on deck and let us continue to speak up against this injustice done to our girls.”

According to the World Health Organisation, female genital mutilation “is a traditional harmful practice that involves the partial or total removal of external female genitalia or other injury to female genital organs for non-medical reasons.”

The international health body disclosed that every year, an estimated 3 million girls are at risk of undergoing female genital mutilation, the majority of whom are cut before they turn 15 years old.