Gov. David Umahi of Ebonyi on Tuesday says the practice of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is reducing not only in the state but in the entire southern part of the country.
He stated this during an official launch of the state’s Gender Based Violence Taskforce and signing of the Memorandum of Understanding with Law Enforcement Agencies, others in Abakaliki.
The programme was sponsored by Economic and Social Empowerment of Rural Communities with support from EU-UN Spotlight Initiative, Ministry of Women Affairs, among other implementing partners.
The governor, represented by Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Deborah Okah, said the practice, widely practiced in the southern part of the country had drastically reduced.
He said that the decline was possible through various interventions of the state government and policy implementations.
“The scourge has drastically reduced through the timely intervention of Mrs. Rachael Umahi, wife of the governor, with support of UNFPA.”
The Coordinator of the GBV Taskforce, Mrs. Faith Nwanchor, expressed readiness of the team to ensure perpetrators were prosecuted.
Nwanchor said the launch would spur members to be proactive toward stamping out violence against women in different parts of the state.
(NAN)
