Group laments poor enforcement of laws criminalising practice
Ekiti State Government has imposed stiffer sanctions for those involved in Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) practice and those aiding it. According to the government, the bill, which was signed into law in 2019, prescribed a one year prison term or fine of N200,000 or both, as against three months imprisonment in the previous enactment.
The Desk Officer, Female Genital Mutilation, Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development in the state, Mr. Tolulope Ayotunde Ogunniyi, stated this, yesterday, at a media dialogue in Ado-Ekiti on public awareness to sensitise people against the practice of FGM, organised by a group, Hacey Health Initiative.
Meanwhile, at the dialogue, the group lamented that despite the enactment of various laws, there has been poor enforcement. Ekiti State Coordinator of the group, Mrs. Oluwanifemi Ayeni, said that neither the victims nor their relations had been able to come forward to lodge complaints about the harmful practice.
According to Ayeni, the police and other security agencies have been sensitised about their role on enforcement of the law criminalising FGM.
“We thought about using the medical personnel to get those involved in the act but this also has its own challenges. Apart from the oath of secrecy on their part, we thought that in solving a problem, we might be creating another as the parents may stop attending post-natal clinic.
“The security men are complaining that nobody has come forward to complain of being a victim or that their relations have become victims. If people are not coming forward to report FGM cases, the enforcement of the law becomes difficult,” she said.
Ayeni said that to make headway in enforcement, the media has a vital role to play to win the war and eradicate the practice.
He added that part of the objectives of the programme was to “ascertain the knowledge, prevalence and contributory factors of FGM in Ekiti, Osun and Oyo states
The state coordinator specifically noted that media are vast tools that could be used to spread awareness and bring about positive behavioural change through sharing the appropriate contents with the public.
“We organised the media dialogue, bringing together media personnel to feed us on how we could partner better and through the interaction help to educate the people on the harmful effects of the practice.
“We are in a society where nobody needs to keep quiet when things are happening as the law enforcement agencies are there to act if reported,” she added.
