Female genital mutilation offenders in Ogun risk jail term

Female genital mutilation 

Ogun Commissioner for Woman Affairs and Social Development,  Mrs Elizabeth Sonubi, , on Wednesday, said the state government would prosecute anyone caught practising ``Female Genital Mutilation.’’

The commissioner disclosed this in Abeokuta during a news conference to celebrate the "16 Days Activism on the Elimination of Gender Based Violence’’ with the theme ``Let us Challenge Militarism and End Violence Against Woman.’’

According to Sonubi, offenders are liable to one year imprisonment.

She said ``Female Genital Mutilation and Female Circumcision Prohibition Law’’ is in force in the state.

She added that the law is aimed at preventing anyone from cutting or mutilating the female private part, organ or clitoris in any manner.

She noted that ``Ogun is committed to ensuring that its citizens are protected against gender-based violence, thus the proposal of the Domestic Violence Prohibition Bill 2014.’’

The commissioner explained that Female Genital Mutilation was a common and harmful traditional practice on women and girls.

She defined it as practice where female genitals are partly or entirely removed or injured with the goal of affecting a woman's sexual feelings.

``This practice is mostly performed before puberty on girls between the age of four and eight years, but recently, it is performed on babies from weeks or months old,’’ she said.

According to her, it is performed during adulthood in some culture.

She said it was commonly practised in the South West, particularly in Ogun, stressing that the state government would continue to support and protect the interest of women.