National Orientation Agency (NOA) has partnered relevant authorities to female genital mutilation (FGM) and other harmful practices against women and children to the barest minimum in Ebonyi State.
NOA made the call during a one-day advocacy dialogue with members of Ebonyi State House of Assembly to support the implementation of laws and policies on FGM and Increased Budgetary Allocations for FGM activities in the state budget.
The workshop was organised by NOA Ebonyi State branch with support from UNICEF at the State House of Assembly Conference Hall, Nkaliki road Abakaliki.
Participants at the meeting include members of Ebonyi State House of Assembly, representatives from Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development and Ministry of Justice.
According to the NOA State Director, Dr Emma Abah, the meeting was geared to boost the agenda of the present government, UNICEF and EU-UN Spotlights initiatives in fast-tracking the elimination of all forms of violence against women and the girl-child.
“Your acceptance to dialogue with us today will definitely change the landscape of sustainable human development and the general wellbeing of the people especially the vulnerable group in the state.
“Our expectations are high that Ebonyi State House of Assembly will boost our community activities as it will serve as a connecting rod with the constituencies,” he said.
Commending the State Assembly for passing into law the VAPP law, The South-East Zonal Director of UNICEF, represented by the Child Protection Specialist, Mr Victor Atuchukwu, urged the legislature to implement the law to ensure that there is the immediate elimination of all forms of rape, female genital mutilation and other forms of harmful practices against the girl-child in the state.
According to him, the arrest and prosecution of the violators in accordance with the VAPP law will reduce drastically the numerous risks and dangers inherent in the circumcision of women/girl-child recorded in the state.
He, however, urged the lawmakers to also kick against the use of culture or tradition to perpetrate the act in their different constituencies.
Responding, the speaker of Ebonyi State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru condemned the spate of circumcision of the girl-child in the state.
He, however, promised to ensure that the legislature joins in eradicating FGM in the state even as he cautioned against scrapping of the cultural heritage of the people and lack of functional hospitals in Nigeria to tackle most health challenges that people are facing, especially with the spate of rape and circumcision of women/girl-child in the country.
Earlier, the facilitator, Barr. Ijeoma Ajanwachukwu gave the overview of Ebonyi Violence Against Persons Prohibition law 2018 (VAPP).
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