Rotimi Idris
A civil society organization, New Generation Girls and Women Development Initiative (NIGAWD) has engaged 10 female Judges, Magistrates and Prosecutors on the implementation of Maputo Protocol in Ekiti State.
The CSO, in collaboration with United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) engaged them in a 3-day training tagged “3-Day Roundabout discussion on Implementation of Maputo Protocol for Judges, Magistrates, Presidents and Prosecutors” to curtail the prevalence of female genital mutilation in the state.
Speaking at the opening ceremony programme, Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Peju Babafemi described FGM as deadly as rape, noting that sustainable mechanisms should be devised to end the menace in Ekiti.
While reiterating the commitment of the Ekiti State Government towards the protection of girl child rights, she urged other stakeholders to embrace partnership to curb the prevalence of FGM in the state.
“It’s germane to eliminate this harmful practice. I want to appreciate the organisations for pushing this forward. There are harmful effects of FGM, a lot of women are broken, it’s very saddened.
“FGM is as evil as rape, we should react better in terms of our response mechanism. We will continue to work with you so they we can have a state free of this menace.”
The Ekiti State acting Chief Judge, Hon Justice Lekan Ogunmoye said the round table discussion is a right direction to address FGM and make sure that perpetrators of such harmful activity are brought to book.
Ogunmoye, represented by Hon Justice Blessing Ajileye added that he Ekiti state Judiciary will continue to uphold the legal frameworks to secure the rights of the girl child in Ekiti.
Speaking with journalists, the Convener of NIGAWD, Abimbola Aladejare-Salako said the purpose of the discussion was to engage critical stakeholders in order to achieve zero tolerance to end FGM in the state.
“We are conducting a three-day training for judges on ending female genital mutilation in Ekiti state and also, we are engaging them on the implementation of the Maputo Protocol in Nigeria.
“FGM in Ekiti state is still at its peak and we realised that for us to be able to bring down the prevalence and actually achieve zero tolerance to end FGM in Ekiti state, we need to also engage our judges so that we can begin to make use of the law and ensure that our girls in Ekiti state are protected.
“Ekiti state has laws dated back 2002 but as at today, it has the highest prevalence of FGM in southwest and second in Nigeria and we have not heard a case of FGM charged to court. Research has shown that FGM is nothing but a myth, harmful practices in the name of culture
“We can’t be popular for a wrong reason, we have led declaration in more than 50 communities. We have collaborated with traditional rulers so that we declare FGM a taboo but somehow, it still persist”.
Speaking on implementation of Maputo protocol, the Gender Officer, Office of the Wife of Ekiti Governor, Shelly Atane said it focuses on addressing violence against women such as gender-based violence, discrimination, social, economic and political inequalities.
- She stressed that the purpose is for the state to take legislative administrative, and other measures to ensure gender equality and protect women’s rights.