FGM: Ebonyi communities advocate enforcement of bye law to end practice

 

The communities at Ezza south LGA were issued simplified version of VAPP Law and certificates of declaration.





Ezza-South (Ebonyi) Dec. 5, 2020 Some Communities in Ezza-South Local Government Area of Ebonyi have expressed worry over the practice of female genital mutilation (FGM) in the area, calling for effective enforcement of bye laws to end the act.






Mr Ezekiel Nwode, representative of the communities made the remark on Saturday at the council headquarters Onueke during a public declaration FGM and inauguration of surveillance team against the practice in the communities. 


Nwode said that making the bye laws effective would go a long way and urged those engaging in the act to desist from it. 


"We have publicly declare war against FGM. You know when the law is effective any one caught performing the act will be punished according to the community law of the land," Nwode said.


The Wife of the Governor in Ebonyi, Mrs Rachael Umahi, commended stakeholders supports to end female genital mutilation and pointed out that more collective efforts were necessary.


Umahi, represented by her Special Assistant on Welfare, Mrs Patience Offorokorie said the prevalence of female genital mutilation in the state had dropped from 74.4 per cent to 53. 2 per cent. 


Mr Chukwuma Elom, Coordinator, Family Succor and Upliftment Foundation, a pet project of Mrs Umahi,  assured that the surveillance team set up would check activities of perpetrators in the area.


NAN reports that surveillance groups were inaugurated for each communities to check activities of perpetrators of female genital mutilation and violence against woman and persons in the area.
 

NAN  also reports that declaration certificates, simplify version of VAPP law and bye law of the community were issued to the group to begin their operation.