The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection is calling on girls to report their parents if, after growing up, they realise their genitals have been mutilated.

Female Genital Mutilation involves the partial or total removal of the external female genitalia, mostly under unconventional procedures. It is prevalent in most parts of the world, especially in Africa mostly due to cultural and traditional beliefs.

Approximately 6000 girls are subjected to FGM every day, with nearly a quarter of them under the age of 14 when it takes place.

According to the United Nation Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the Upper East Region of Ghana recorded over 3,000 cases of FGM in 2009 alone, an alarming situation that confirmed that some people were still practising FGM in the country.

Over the years, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), civil society organisations and others, have championed the cause of fighting against FGM, yet, more remains to be done in the form of education and intensified advocacy to stop it.

FGM exposes young vulnerable females to numerous health hazards including Obstetric Fistula and even complications during child bearing and delivery.

The fight against Obstetric Fistula (OF) is one that the UNFPA is leading the charge for.

According to UNFPA’s Representative in Ghana Niyi Ojuolakpe, “…It is the onus for UNFPA to provide all the assistance to Ghana to ensure that first and foremost, the number of women who developed Obstetric Fistula is reduced, as currently between 700 and 1300 cases occur annually”.

It is in line with ending FGM in Africa that UNFPA, UNICEF, African Union Commission (AUC) and the Ghana’s Ministries of Health and Gender recently brought together key stakeholders from across Africa to deliberate on ways to end the menace.

Addressing the gathering, Director at the Department of Gender at the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr Comfort Asare said: “I am calling on children, when you grow up and you see that you’ve been cut, report your parents; report and let us know that it is being done in your family.

“If even we don’t punish them, we will see them as a target group where we will concentrate with our sensitisation to make sure that they become champions to stop them from cutting their siblings. So young girls, when you see that you’ve been cut, make sure that you report, report your parents,” she said.

For her part, First Lady Rebecca Akufo-Addo called for intensified advocacy and education to end FGM.

“Many options are available to governments and other stakeholders in the fight against FGM. We need to intensify these options if we want to make progress and eliminate FGM. We must intensify our education and outreach activities to ensure prevention. We must use all the legal activities available in our laws. We must all work together to ensure no girl goes through this horrifying experience”, Mr Akufo-Addo said.


Source: ClassFMonline.com