By Tomiwa Akinbamire
Female genital mutilation (FGM) remains a grave violation of human rights and one of the most extreme forms of discrimination against women and girls in Nigeria. Beyond the immediate pain, the practice leaves lifelong physical, psychological, and sexual health consequences for millions of survivors.
Recent figures from the Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey show a troubling mix of progress and setbacks. While the national prevalence of FGM among women aged 15–49 declined from 25 per cent in 2013 to 20 per cent in 2018, the prevalence among girls aged 0–14 rose from 16.9 per cent to 19.2 per cent during the same period. Globally, an estimated 68 million girls were at risk of undergoing female genital mutilation between 2015 and 2030, underscoring the scale of the problem.
The persistence of the practice is also evident at the community level. A report by Hope Newspaper revealed that about 70 per cent of nursing mothers in Ondo State still subject their female children to FGM. This reflects how deeply rooted the practice remains and how it continues to be passed from one generation to the next.
Today, February 6, marks the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation. On this occasion, the World Health Organization Nigeria highlighted updated guidelines aimed at strengthening prevention efforts and improving care for survivors. According to WHO, the revised guidelines include eight key recommendations focused on training and capacity-building for health workers, improving access to resources, and expanding educational interventions for women and girls living with or at risk of FGM, as well as men and boys in affected communities.
The guidelines also emphasize access to deinfibulation for women with Type III FGM, including guidance on appropriate timing, alongside mental health interventions for women and girls experiencing anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder. Surgical and non-surgical sexual health interventions are also included to support survivors’ wellbeing.
In addition, WHO outlines three best-practice statements that stress the importance of developing and enforcing laws and policies against FGM, establishing professional codes of conduct for health workers, and ensuring counselling and informed consent before deinfibulation. Considerations for effectively implementing these recommendations are also discussed.
Despite some national progress, the rise in cases among young girls and the continued practice in some states show that female genital mutilation remains a serious public health and human rights concern in Nigeria. Sustained education, stronger enforcement of existing laws, and survivor-centred healthcare remain critical to ending the practice and protecting future generations.
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