NHRC Calls for the End of Female Genital Mutilation

As Nigeria joins the global community to observe the Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has emphasized the need for enhanced collaboration among Nigerians, healthcare workers, and other relevant stakeholders to eradicate the harmful practice of FGM in the country.

Dr. Tony Ojukwu, the Executive Secretary of the NHRC, made the statement in Abuja, reiterating that the Commission has long been at the forefront of efforts to eliminate FGM, a practice that is painful, harmful, and degrading to women and girls.

Dr. Ojukwu highlighted that, in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Civil Resource Development and Documentation Centre (CIRDDOC), the NHRC developed a Training Manual in 2017 aimed at addressing the human rights issues surrounding FGM. The manual offers a detailed analysis of women’s rights and serves as a guide for reporting FGM in line with established standards.

“The Manual provides essential guidance on how to report FGM and raises awareness about the rights violations it causes,” Ojukwu explained.

He further noted that, with support from UNFPA and UNICEF, the NHRC had conducted training sessions in five focal states—Imo, Ebonyi, Osun, Oyo, and Ekiti—using the manual to eliminate FGM. Positive results have been reported in these states, and the Commission plans to expand these efforts to other regions based on available resources.

In addition to these initiatives, Dr. Ojukwu mentioned that, with funding from the EU-UN Spotlight Initiative in 2019, the NHRC established the now-defunct Special Independent Investigation Panel on Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV). The panel, which operated across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, successfully handled complaints of SGBV, providing support and empowerment for victims, including offering skills training and business opportunities to help women become financially independent.

On the observance of Zero Tolerance Day, the NHRC Executive Secretary urged Nigerians to actively report instances of FGM and other human rights abuses to the Commission, which will take necessary actions to protect the victims’ rights, in line with national, regional, and international laws.