This press release is to inform Nigerians that those of us in the diaspora,
and other citizens within the country support the passing of bill HB22;
"Outlaw of female genital mutilation practice in the Federal Republic of
Nigeria" by Hon. Janet Adeyemi. We believe that this bill is needed if the
health of our women, our children, and the nation as a whole is to be
optimised.
Female genital mutilation (FGM) is classified under four different classes;
types I, II, III and IV. Types I, II, and IV is practised in Nigeria and
this has significantly elevated our maternal, and infant mortality.
Forty-fifty percent of our women have undergone FGM. Nigeria currently has a
maternal mortality rate of 1000 women per 100,000 and an infant mortality
rate of 112 per 1,000.
This is an alarmingly high rate! Health is wealth, and our nation must
prioritise the health of her women. FGM has not impacted the nation at all,
but destroyed lives, maimed women and children, and caused much sorrow and
anguish. Ghana outlawed this ugly practice since 1994! As a nation we cannot
afford to be behind when it comes to an issue of survival. FGM only
contributes to our underdevelopment.
Article 2.2 of the Nigerian Declaration of Human Responsibilities forbids
anyone in our society to maim, FGM is maiming of the female genitals.
Nigeria is also a signatory to the Convention on the Elimination of All
Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).
The current bill HB22 must be passed and the lives and health of our people
salvaged. We urge the national assembly and the federal government to pass
HB22 as a law in Nigeria. This is a step that must be taken if survival as a
nation is our goal.
We encourage Nigerians to show support for the passing of this bill. Get in
touch with the councillors and government representatives in your town.