A top UN official has revealed that that 4.1 million girls in the world are at risk of undergoing female genital mutilation despite world battle to end the practice.
Female genital mutilation which is widely practice in African and Asian countries as many of the practices and those who take their girl child into the practice claimed it is a process of cleanliness.
However right groups critics that it is inhumane and could cause health deterioration of those girl children forced to undergo it as they say it could contribute to the spread of HIV and Aids and many other transmittable diseases.
Meanwhile, as the world observed today international day of zero tolerance of the practice [female genital mutilation], aiming to improve girls and women’s conditions and gender equality, UNFPA country representative Kunle Adeniyi, UNFPA Representative described the practice as a grave cause for concern which needs a rapid actions to ensure the fundamental human rights of our women and girls are protected.
“It violates women’s rights to sexual and productive health, physical integrity non-discrimination and freedom from cruel. And 4.1 million girls around the world are at risks of undergoing FGM,” he said.
According to him, female genital mutilation leads to long term physical, psychological and social consequences, adding “we need politics and legislation protecting the rights of girls and women to live free from violence and discrimination.”
He further explained that, in 2015, 193 countries including the Gambia overwhelmingly backed the elimination of female genital mutilation as one of the targets in the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development.