The United Nations has called for more support from member nations on need to eliminate female genital mutilation (FGM), saying unless action is accelerated now another 68 million girls would have been cut by 2030.
The agencies made the call on Wednesday in commemoration of the International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM marked annually on February 6.
Female genital mutilation refers to all procedures involving partial or total removal of the external female genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons, and it is a deeply entrenched social and cultural norm in many societies.
“Despite the decline, millions of girls and women are still faced with the scourge of genital mutilation every year in Nigeria. There is therefore, an urgent need for decision makers and political leaders to take concrete action towards ending the harmful practices of FGM in Nigeria,” Mohamed Fall, UNICEF country representative, said.
However, in a statement signed by the executive directors of UNFPA, Natalia Kanem, UNICEF, Henrietta Fore and UN Women, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngouka, the UN called on governments in countries where the practice was prevalent to develop national action plans to end it.
“On the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation, we reaffirm our commitment to end this violation of human rights so that tens of millions of girls who are still at risk of being mutilated by 2030 do not experience such suffering.
“At the national level, we need new policies and legislation protecting the rights of girls and women to live free from violence and discrimination. “Governments in countries where female genital mutilation is prevalent should also develop national action plans to end the practice.
“Governments in countries where female genital mutilation is prevalent should also develop national action plans to end the practice.
“To end female genital mutilation, we have to tackle the root causes of gender inequality and work for women’s social and economic empowerment,” the UN said.
According to the report, FGM/C has no health benefits and often leads to long-term medical complications, including severe pain, prolonged bleeding, infection, infertility and even death. It can also lead to increased risk of HIV transmission.
“Women who have undergone genital mutilation can experience complications during childbirth, including postpartum haemorrhage, stillbirth and early neonatal death In addition to its physical risks, FGM/C is a violation of girls’ and women’s fundamental human rights.
The report further revealed that globally, over 200 million women and girls are estimated to have undergone some form of genital mutilation and girls aged 14 and younger account for about 44 million of those who have been “cut.”
“Female genital mutilation and cutting practice is a globally recognised as violation of human right of girls and women that perpetuates deep-rooted inequality between the sexes.”
