The United Nations Kids’s Fund (UNICEF) has raised an alarm over the rise in feminine genital mutilation amongst Nigerian ladies aged 0-14.
Peter Hawkins, the UNICEF Consultant in Nigeria, who raised the alarm through a press assertion on Saturday, stated the speed of FGM among the many age group has risen from 16.9 per cent in 2013 to 19.2 per cent in 2018.
Stressing that Nigeria accounts for the third-highest variety of girls and ladies who’ve undergone FGM worldwide, an estimated 86 per cent of females, in line with him “have been reduce earlier than the age of 5, whereas eight per cent have been reduce between ages 5 and 14.”
He added that Nigeria has an estimated 19.9 million survivors.
Whereas the nationwide prevalence of FGM amongst girls in Nigeria, aged 15-49, dropped from 25 per cent in 2013 to 20 per cent in 2018, prevalence amongst ladies aged 0-14, he stated has elevated from 16.9 per cent to 19.2 per cent in the identical interval.
Hawkins, who issued the assertion in commemoration of the world Worldwide Day of Zero Tolerance of FGM, stated 68 million ladies worldwide have been estimated to be susceptible to feminine genital mutilation between 2015 and 2030.
Citing COVID-19, which he stated has continued to shut colleges and disrupt programmes that assist defend ladies, a further two million extra circumstances of FGM could happen over the following decade.
He stated FGM not solely has no well being advantages, however it is usually deeply dangerous to women and girls, each bodily and psychologically.
Piqued that disparities within the observe exist throughout the nation, state prevalence, he stated ranges from 62 per cent in Imo to lower than 1 per cent in Adamawa and Gombe, stating that “the prevalence of FGM is highest within the South East (35 per cent) and South West (30 per cent) and lowest within the North East (6 per cent).”
Hawkins stated all should be on deck to finish the observe which violates the females’ rights to well being, safety and bodily integrity. Supply: DailyPost
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