Ogun To Prosecute For Genital Mutilation (Daily Times)
Ogun State government, Tuesday, declared that any couple, community leader or anybody caught perpetrating act of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) would be jailed for a period of one year.
The state Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs Elizabeth Sonubi, made the declaration while addressing journalists in Abeokuta, the state capital, as part of activities lined up to celebrate the year 2014 16-Day of Activism on Elimination of Gender Based Violence, particularly against women. Sonubi, who was flanked at the press briefing by representatives of the United Nations Population Funds (UNFPA), Damilola Obinna explained that the state has already identified 12 communities in three local government areas of the state which included Yewa North, Yewa South as well as Ipokia where the practice is still in vogue.
The Commissioner explained that the state would as from second week in January 2015, commence the arrest and prosecution of anyone caught perpetrating the crime of FGM.
She further stated that the law prohibiting the act had been enacted since 2006, which stipulated a minimum jail term of one year to offenders. Sonubi also explained that the 16 days of Activism on elimination of Gender Based Violence which included FGM and other domestic violence would entail serious enlightenment, capacity training cum workshop for personnel of all the law enforcing agencies, community leaders as well as Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs) before the enforcement of sanctions.
The state Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs Elizabeth Sonubi, made the declaration while addressing journalists in Abeokuta, the state capital, as part of activities lined up to celebrate the year 2014 16-Day of Activism on Elimination of Gender Based Violence, particularly against women. Sonubi, who was flanked at the press briefing by representatives of the United Nations Population Funds (UNFPA), Damilola Obinna explained that the state has already identified 12 communities in three local government areas of the state which included Yewa North, Yewa South as well as Ipokia where the practice is still in vogue.
The Commissioner explained that the state would as from second week in January 2015, commence the arrest and prosecution of anyone caught perpetrating the crime of FGM.
She further stated that the law prohibiting the act had been enacted since 2006, which stipulated a minimum jail term of one year to offenders. Sonubi also explained that the 16 days of Activism on elimination of Gender Based Violence which included FGM and other domestic violence would entail serious enlightenment, capacity training cum workshop for personnel of all the law enforcing agencies, community leaders as well as Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs) before the enforcement of sanctions.
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