VFN, Osun Govt, UNFPA, Others Task Stakeholders To End FGM

Organisations on the mission of seeing to the end of the deadly practice of Female Genital Mutilation have called on youths to prevail on their parents and guardians to desist from cutting girls.

They also tasked other stakeholders including traditional rulers, parents, guardians and traditional birth attendants to ensure that the practice is stopped.

A Non-Governmental Organisation based in Osun State, Value Female Network (VFN) in collaboration with the ministry of Women, Children and Social Affairs in the State, United Nation Population Fund (UNFPA) and other NGOs gave this charge while commemorating the International Zero Tolerance for FGM Day on Thursday.

The FGM advocate bodies visited schools in Osogbo and carried out enlightenment lectures on the havocs FGM is creating while calling on students, parents and traditional institutions to champion the course of seeing to the end of the dangerous practice.

At the Fakunle Unity High School, Osogbo, the Commissioner for the ministry, Barr Olubukola Olaboopo charged the students to be advocates against FGM wherever they find themselves.

For VFN Executive Director, Dr Costly Aderibigbe, youths should work on convincing their parents and guardians to abandon the practice. She unveiled two free toll lines that people of the state could call whenever they are faced with occasions of FGM.

Also speaking, a Community Development advocate and consultant for UNFPA, Mrs Aduke Obelawo called on all community leaders, traditional institutions, parents and other relevant stakeholders to ensure an end comes to FGM in the country.

She said the practice has become old and outdated, adding that its negative impact has overpowered the mythical reason behind it.