Guest speakers at an event to commemorate this year zero tolerance for female Genital mutilation in Ekiti State have expressed displesure that no one has ever been prosecuted for perpetrating the harmful health practices since the promogation of law banning it in 2002.
The guest lectures are doctor oludare monhason-bello of UCH Ibadan, Director of an Ekiti based NGO, Mrs Abimbola Aladejare-salako, an Ex circumciser, Mrs Taiwo oluwaseun and a legal practitioner, Mrs Rita illevebare.
They maintained that investigation which could lead to arrest of perpetrators were often frustrated by members of the society by covering the perpetrators thereby making the state to rank high among those practicing FGM.
At the event in Ado-Ekiti they alleged that retired medical officers were the major perpetrators to secure financial gains.
The guest lectures added the need for clerics to educate parents during naming activities that female circumcision remained a violation of human right and contrary to the law.
In a remark, wife of Ekiti state Governor Erelu Bisi Fayemi urged stakeholders to cooperate with government at all levels towards the stoppage of female Genital mutilation.
“we need cooperation from people at the grasroosts if not it may be difficult to achieve the desired results as far as FGM is concerned”
She stressed.
The wife of the governor explained that female genital mutilation law was still in force as anyone caught perpetrating the harmful health practice would be prosecuted.
Also contributing, the commissioner for health, Dr Oyebanji Filani said the hineous act had become endemic harmful practice that should be totally discouraged in the State.
The Commissioner for Women Affairs, Alhaja Maryam Ogunlade, regretted that many trained medical practitioners
are still engaging in violation of human rights by circumcising girl child despite knowing the implications of such practice.
The Chairmen, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs and Health , Mrs Yemisi Ayokunle and Teju Okuyiga, said the house will continue to partner the executive arm for the enactment of laws that would stipulate stiffer penalty for practitioners.
They said: “FGM is a violation of the basic rights of women and girls as well as hazardous to their health. The House has been giving speedy passage to any bill that has to do with gender equality and the protection of the rights of women in Ekiti to demonstrate our commitment to the fight”.
