The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has called on Nigerians to report cases of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and for collaboration with stakeholders to end the menace.
The commission’s Executive Secretary, Tony Ojukwu, made this call in a press statement on Thursday to mark the Day of Zero Tolerance for the practice of FGM.
Mr Ojukwu emphasised the need for strengthened collaboration in the fight against Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), aligning with this year’s theme, ‘Stepping Up the Pace: Strengthening Alliances and Building Movements to End FGM.’
The International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM is commemorated annually on 6 February to raise awareness and highlight the progress made against the scourge.
Mr Ojukwu noted that the commission’s progress in the war against FGM includes collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Civil Resource Development and Documentation Centre (CIRDDOC) in developing a training manual on human rights and FGM.
“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,” he stated.
The NHRC has also carried out training programmes conducted in five states – Imo, Ebonyi, Osun, Oyo, and Ekiti – with support from UNFPA/UNICEF in a bid to end the harmful practice of FGM, he said.
He noted that these trainings, which targeted government agencies, communities, religious organisations, the media, security agents, traditional rulers, and non-governmental organisations (NGOs), have shown positive results in reducing FGM prevalence.
Mr Ojukwu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, noted that the commission will replicate the training in other states where FGM is practised to bolster its eradication.
