End FGM now, Journalists’ Network pushes for stricter laws, community involvement
The Network of Reproductive Health Journalists Nigeria (NRHJN) has called on stakeholders to be more proactive in eliminating Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in society and across Nigeria.
This was stated in a release signed by the Ondo State Coordinator of the Network, Alhaja Fatima Muraina.
According to the statement, drastic measures should be taken, including visiting the homes of Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs), many of whom still engage in the practice due to its financial benefits.
“How do parents get their girls mutilated if not through a professional who performs the procedure for them? Female delivery methods should be monitored and tested before immunisation is administered,” the statement read.
It further noted that the practice persists because parents continue to covertly achieve their aim through those involved in this harmful act.
The statement urged health professionals from both the government and private sectors, as well as health operators, including TBAs, to ensure that perpetrators of this act are arrested and held accountable, which would help curb the menace in society.
“The government should issue directives to ensure that investigations are conducted on every girl child brought for immunisation at all immunisation centres.
“Arrests should be made if any mother or officer is found to be perpetrating FGM at the point of immunisation.
“They should be handed over to security operatives immediately to face the full wrath of the law,” the statement read.
The Network further stressed the need for stricter enforcement of existing laws against FGM, urging law enforcement agencies to intensify their efforts in apprehending those who continue to violate the law.
“It called for stiffer penalties, including longer prison sentences and hefty fines, to serve as deterrents.
Additionally, the statement highlighted the importance of community engagement in ending the practice.
” It urged religious and traditional leaders to use their influence to educate their communities on the dangers of FGM and dispel myths that promote the harmful act.
The NRHJN also called on schools to integrate anti-FGM awareness into their curriculum, ensuring that young girls are educated about their rights and the health risks associated with the practice.
The statement further urged media organisations to intensify advocacy through investigative journalism, public enlightenment campaigns, and special reports that expose perpetrators and their methods.
It also encouraged victims of FGM and their families to speak up and seek justice, assuring them of legal support and rehabilitation services.
The statement appreciated non-governmental organisations and other civil society organisations for their relentless efforts in sensitising the public about the menace. It urged them to be more proactive by collaborating to achieve their goal of zero tolerance for FGM.
“We should be recording successes and tracking the number of those who have been apprehended or sanctioned to deter others from committing the offence.
“Perpetrators must stop endangering the lives of our girl-children,” it stated
