SheDecidesNigeria Open Mic calls for end to girl child mutilation, gender inequality

By Chukwudi Ndubeze

A Global movement for female and girl child rights, SheDecidesNigeria, has called for an end to the practice of female genital mutilation in Nigeria and other parts of the world.

The group, said that the continued mutilation of the female genital organs has endangered lives of innocent women in the society. The group called on government and instituted authorities to end the practice and protect the rights of women and the girl child in the society through the abolition of mutilation of female genital organs.

They also called for total review of the position of women in the society as regards intimidating cultural practices which they said denies women fair share of rights to decide her decision as against impositions and other denials in the society.

Speaking at the open mic show in Awka Anambra state, weekend tagged ” Speak Up”, the convener, Juliet Ifechukwu said that SheDecides open mic is a story telling programme hosted to give women voice to speak out the abuse of their rights in the society.

www.odogwublog.com reports that Juliet who is the SheDecidesNigeria Ambassador said that the platform is geared towards creating awareness and advocate more on gender equality, and against some harmful traditional practices that are not helping women.

She noted that the programme aims at giving women in the society voice to speak out their minds on numerous challenges facing women and chart ways to correct the ills halting the progress of women in the society.

“The program is all about promoting women empowerment because when a woman is empowered, she has more rights over her sexual reproduction health and rights.

“The forum invited stakeholders from different sectors even the people with disabilities came to speak up their problems so that the society will know what they want.

She maintained that SheDecides is a feminist movement sponsored by the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF). According to her, the group champions call for right equality and the place of women and the girl child in all spheres of human endeavor stressing that the group are strong opposition to gender based violence predominant in the society.

She regretted that most states in Nigeria failed to key into programmes organized by the federal government of Nigeria to help women express themselves. She pointed out that women should not only be viewed as marriage commodities but as minds that can add positively to the society.

Also speaking, Media officer of Joint National Association Of Persons With Disabilities, JONAPWD, Miss Chidimma Ajemba pointed out that justice system in the society has failed to accommodate the people with disabilities especially their female foes stressing that even the calls by core human right advocates have nowadays been ignored.

She noted that time is right for women with disabilities to have right to external healthcare as well as sexual reproduction. She also said that women with disabilities have right to marry, form families and earn a standard of living.

www.odogwublog.com recalls that participants at the event made call on the need to empower and encourage women in the society who have passed through difficulties and pain occasioned by the gross abuse of their rights through rapes, genital mutilation, gender based violence and even societal deprivations.

A Health expert, Apeh Chiamaka said that the subjection of girl child to mutilation has had far reaching consequences and health hazards on women even stating that the society made women and the girl child feel guilty , starting from their point of birth as she accused the society of raising women as marriage commodities.

Mr. Jimmy Chinedu, a gender advocate and president of ‘I Build A Girl Initiative, Nigeria said that denial of justice in countries like Nigeria has made women to be secretive and afraid to speak out for justice.

Similarly, a broadcaster with Unizik FM, Awka, Mrs Amaka Madu said many things could make ladies to be secretive in life, pointing out that the society placed guilt on the girl child that limits her from crying out for Justice as according to her, justice system in the society has not been favorable to women.

Another broadcaster with Purity Fm Mgbakwu, Roseline Ajechanayej while partly blaming families for rape cases said that there is poor intimacy existing between a girl child and her parents where the children find it difficult to express their difficulties before their parents. She hinted that the problem of intimacy has resulted to lack of confidence on the children.

Another participant, Obumneme Obidimma who spoke on behalf of the Igbo traditional community, blamed the invasion of western culture for the loss of values in the society, even as he described recent cases of paedophile and rape of minor as devilish and Man’s inhumanity to fellow man.

Speaking on behalf of the Muslim community, Hajiya Khadijat Olahan said that female genital mutilation should be stopped even as she said that such practice has exposed women to difficulties of child labour and serious health risks.

She however, pointed out that God made woman tender in nature and not weak adding that empowering a woman is tantamount to empowering a nation. She therefore called for inclusion of every female child in education.

Contributing, Pastor Godwin Onwurah for Christian community called for equality of rights in the society irrespective of gender. He said that pure religion stands to help the weaker sex who is the woman. He said it should be duty of the Church to propagate gender equality.

However, Mrs Grace E. Okoli said that cases of rape are traumatic and consequently leaves stigma and scars on the victims. She called for need to create a community to protect the girl child from the harmful abuse through a medium to report cases of abuse especially rape.

Corroborating, Comrade Ifeanyi Anyaelesim said that the family has a strong role to play by building confidence on their wards to tackle cases as it affects them. Ifeanyi who called for improved sensitization advised government to take proactive measures to quell rising cases of rape in the society.

Meanwhile, the State Health Educator, Anambra state Primary healthcare services, Mrs Uju Onwuegbuzina, charged women to rise up and take their place in the society. She said gone are days when women were relegated to the background of scheme of things in the society. She urged women and the girl child to be home builders who will contribute positively to the society.

www.odogwublog.com reports further that the group urged governments at all levels to work in collaboration with traditional and religious communities to protect the rights of the girl child and women in communities as they are the major influencers of behaviours in the society.