Trailblazer Initiative Nigeria with support UNICEF Nigeria held a 1-Day Policy Advocacy Dialogue with Government Officials, Academia, Parliamentarians, and Service Providers on tackling challenges faced by Girls.
The Dialogue which took place at Carpenters’ House beside First Baptist Church, Okeho, Kajola Local Government, Area of Oyo State on Wednesday, 19th April, 2023 featured Comrade Ola Moses, the Monitoring and Evaluation officer of Trailblazer Initiative Nigeria as its facilitator.
In his presentation, Moses stressed that Female genital mutilation, Gender-based violence, child marriage, and violence against women and children are all human rights’ violations and harmful practices.
On his submission in connection with FGM, the facilitator maintained that, FGM is mostly carried out on young girls between infancy and age 15, noting that this practice is recognized internationally as a violation of humans’ right of girls and women.
He added that Female Genital Mutilation is a violation of rights of the children and violation of a person’s right to health, security, and physical, integrity, the right to be free from torture and cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment, and the right to life when the procedure results in death.
While stating immediate complications attached to Female Genital Mutilation, Moses said that, they were ranged from severe pain,excessive bleeding, genital tissue swelling, fever, infections, tetanus, urinary problems, wound healing problems, injury surrounding genital tissue, shock and death among others.
On long term complications, Moses mentioned urinary problems, vaginal problems(discharge, itching), poverty, menstrual problems, scar tissue, cyst and Keloid, sexual problems(decreased satisfaction), increased risk of childbirth complications, psychological issues and infertility among others.
While welcoming responses and possible solutions to these practices from king, Local Government Chairman, Local Parliamentarians, Religious Leaders and Health Care Worker, Evangelist Olanrewaju Olaniyi who spoke on behalf of religious leaders(Christianity), maintained that Female Genital Mutilation is a harmful practice which he and other concerned Christian leaders have been campaigning against in their respective churches.
He said, gender based violence and violence against women are total harmful practices, which are dangerous to their living, noting that women are weaker vessels who are not supposed to experience such practices no matter what happens.
Alhaji Lukman Akole who spoke in Islamic perspectives, enjoined parents to give sound home training to their children, teach them the true ways of God, and should also monitor their abodes and living while outside the parents’ comfort zones.
Hon. John Olorode, who represented the parliamentarians revealed that government has made provision of four(4) years’ jail term for whoever contravenes the rights of female in connection with forceful circumcision and mutilation.
Olorode however appealed to all parents to stay away from acts that keep exposing their children to marrital deeds,which they are not yet matured to know and master.
Mrs Rukayat Muritala, a health worker reiterated on both immediate and long term complications of Female Genital Mutilation, and however cautioned parents to refrain from circumcision of their female children.
On bond that keeps family together, Muritala maintained that keeping peer groups tears family apart, and she however advised that the discussions which are not fruitful to families’ bond and oneness should be jettisoned outrightly.
Baale Gbonje Community, Chief Kazeem Ariowo appealed to Traditional Experts in Circumcision to refrain from further engagement in Female Genital Mutilation, appealed to parents to take adequate care of their female children and men should however exercise patience in order to prevent violence against women.
The Programme was well attended by participants across various designations and its engagement was hitch free throughout.
