Female Gential Mutilation should be abolished

FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION SHOULD BE ABOLISHED

Good day Mr. Chairman, Panel of judges, Accurate time keeper, Co-debators, Ladies and gentlemen. I Adekoya Adetunji, I am here to support the motion which says “Female Genital Mutilation Should Be Abolished Among Girls and Women. Female Genital Mutilation (F.G.M.) involves the partial or total removal of the external female genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons. It is also known as female circumcision, According to World Health Organisation (W.H.O.) two hundred million girls and women alive today have been circumcised in thirty African countries. The United Nations Population Fund (U.N.F.P.A.) in collaboration with United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (U.N.I.C.E.F.) in Nigeria Osun state had 76.3 percent prevalence rate, Ekiti state has 71.2 percent, Oyo state has 69.2 percent, Ebonyi state has 55.6 percent, Imo state has 48.8 percent and Lagos with 44.8 percent. Research has shown that it is a global issue and that the highest maternal and infant mortality rates are in Female Genital Mutilation (F.G.M.) practicing regions. First and foremost, Female Genital Mutilation leaves physical and mental scars. Those who engage in this practice believe that it is a rite one must perform to cross into womanhood; Before marriage or child bearing. But it is a migration from healthy lifestyle to an unhealthy living; Exposing our girls and women with two or more diseases and depressions. Examples of such diseases are urinary tracts infections, severe bleeding, painful intercourse and childbirth, cysts infertility, anxiety, severe depression, psychosomatic illness and many more. While girls and women who are not circumcise, Majority of them live a healthy life. Furthermore, Female circumcision awareness programs should be done by the Government to the local chiefs, traditional heads, etc. Female circumcision is done by both literate and illiterate people because their traditional heads, local chiefs, and head of families encourage it, And have seen it as a cultural rite to make a woman complete and faithful while we live in a corrupt world where sexual immorality is the order of the day. Government should orientate and educate all local heads, traditional heads, and family heads of villages, communities, cities and states exposing the various harms in this practice. Making them fully aware Female Genital Mutilation (F.G.M.) mars the lives of our girls and women and does not make them as they believed. The law enforcement agency should be vigilant both the parent and grand aunties should be prosecuted. Some women circumcise their female child without the knowledge of their fathers and many are done without the consent of the girl child and many are forced to be “cut”. Those that circumcise female child are called grand aunties, wazari, local barber or local circumciser using sharp stones, broken glasses, scissors and razor which are not sterilized. The law enforcement agent can be vigilant and thorough investigation to any related information they can wipe them all in our societies. By so doing , societies will produce healthy female while healthy female will produce healthy children. Yes! a healthy society is achievable. In many societies where virginity is absolute prerequisite for marriage and extra marital relationship may lead to severe penalties, Some religious leaders conclude that it is the best way to preserve female virginity; despite that it has no base in the Bible or Quran. A research shows that only three percent (3%) of female in U.S. are virgins till marriage. The best solution to preserve female virginity is teaching, of sex education at home, schools and community in general. Female Genital Mutilation (F.G.M.) it is a crime against defenseless child, It is the greatest abuse to girls and womanhood, Giving our females a lifelong scar. Remember, When you save a girl child, You have saved my wife and yours too. When incidence like this is reported to necessary authority, You have saved my unborn child and yours as well. And together we have saved the generation if Christ tarries. Therefore, It is our responsibility to save the world and the way to save humanity is when you save the female child. With all the points I have discussed, I hope all and sundry is convinced that Female Genital Mutilation (F.G.M.) should be abolished. Thank you.