The White Truck Empowerment Initiative, in collaboration with the Lagos state government, Global Media Campaign (GMC) and the Frontline ending female genital mutilation (FGM), have commenced media sensitisation and community engagement on how communities can report Female genital mutilation of girls under 18 years.
The project Coordinator at White Truck Empowerment Initiative, Barr. Taiye Edah, while appearing on Radio One, Lagos, urged community members to call 08000333333 to report any cases of FGM in their area.
According to Barr, Edah, “Female genital mutilation is a human rights issue and must be stopped.
“The VAPP Act establishes penalties for FGM’s performance or another’s engagement to perform FGM.
“Being caught in the act carries a punishment of imprisonment not exceeding four years or a fine not exceeding 200,000.00 Naira (US$554.808), or both.
Such statements provide the political backing to strengthen community-wide efforts and initiatives to eliminate female genital mutilation.
Through community-led engagement, education, dialogue and consensus-building, communities like Lagos Island East have also declared publicly banning FGM.
So far, the radio, newspaper, and community outreach outreached of White Truck initiative has reached about 14.3 million people with messages on preventing and reporting female genital mutilation cases.
White Truck Empowerment Initiative is working closely with the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Team here in Lagos State to stop this violence.
Other persons in the company of Barr Edah during the radio appearance were Dr Ekeate Etiebet and other volunteers of the NGO, Eyimofe, and Onose Nwegbu.
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