The Oyo State government has reassured of its commitment to begin the prosecution of persons perpetrating Female Genital Mutilation, FGM, in the state.
The State Reproductive Officer, Mrs. Balqees Olawoyin, who gave the commitment, at a one day sensitization programme organised by Hacey Health Initiative, in Ibadan, said the many success stories were not being recorded on FGM because violators were allowed to go as the cases were handled as family matter.
She maintained that the state government would not relent in ensuring that violators were brought to book including conspirators within the family members, stating that FGM was an evil that its eradication must be supported by all.
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According to her, “While various efforts are being made to see to the eradication of FGM in the state, nothing much has been achieved in the area of prosecution of offenders. The state government however would not be deterred as it is more than determined to ensure that violators are brought to book.
“With the state government ready to do its part, I cannot but appeal to the various stakeholders to support the government to put an end to this evil called FGM.”
Some of the stakeholders at the sensitization programme, in their separate remarks, noted that traditional leaders were in the best position to help in eradicating all forms of violation against the girl child and women.
Some also faulted the cultural practices within communities which they said were kept hidden from government, stating that such collaboration aid perpetrators escaping punishments due to the culture of silence.
