Fighting genital mutilation in Ekiti State

The Ekiti State First Lady, H E, Reelu Bisi Fayemi on Monday convinced a large number of female cutters in Ikole Local Government Area (LGA) to drop the practice of female genital mutilation (FGM), an extreme form of violence used to control girls’ sexuality.

These older female cutters have agreed to abandon their career of overseeing FGM traditional ceremonies across the State for skills-development programs and alternative careers as farmers, tailors and businesswomen.

They also signed an Anti-FGM Declaration Agreement with the Ministry of Women Affairs assuring government that they won’t return to the practice.

FGM involves the partial or complete removal of external female genitalia during secret traditional ceremonies which can be life-threatening to girls and women due to severe bleeding and infections.

Erelu Bisi Fayemi has designed #ObinrinketeTour to also tackle key obstacles to eradicating FGM, through a combination of community engagement, empowerment and advocacy in Ekiti State.

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