The United Nations Children Education Fund (UNICEF) has suggested the need for a legal and policy framework from the Ekiti State government to curb the harmful practice of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in the state.
UNICEF consultant on FGM for Ekiti, Osun and Oyo states, Mrs. Aderonke Olutayo made this call on Sunday at the end of a stakeholders’ meeting of the State Technical Committee on FGM held in Ado-Ekiti.
Olutayo and Ekiti State government decried the increasing rate of FGM practice in the state, calling for a collective efforts from all stakeholders to curb the menace.
Speaking at the meeting, she said that UNICEF was collaborating with the state government with technical supports in order to eliminate the practise from the society.
She commended the state government for its determination in putting in place framework for prosecution of those practising it, adding that there was need for legal and policy framework to curb the harmful practise.
She said, "Some of those who perform the genital mutilation are unskilled. They do it with primitive and unsterilised equipment and do damage to human parts.
“The World Health Organisation had a law prohibiting this practice and it has been domesticated in Nigeria, particularly in Ekiti State. I want to appeal that the laws must be implemented to protect the lives of our women."