Som en av sine siste lovgivende handlinger har avtroppende president i Nigeria Goodluck Jonathan innført et nasjonalt forbud mot kjønnslemlestelse av kvinner.
Aktivister mener det historiske forbudet i det kulturelt og økonomisk mektige landet er et viktig signal i kampen mot kjønnslemlestelse og håper at det vil få en positiv innvirkning på de afrikanske landene som enda ikke har forbudt praksisen.
The outgoing president, Goodluck Jonathan, signed the ban into law as one of his final acts as leader. He was beaten in Nigeria’s presidential election in March by Muhammadu Buhari, who was sworn into office on Friday.
Loven, som ble godkjent i det nigerianske senatet i begynnelsen av mai, forbyr også menn å forlate sine koner og barn uten økonomisk støtte.
I følge FN er nærmere en fjerdedel av alle kvinnene i det folkerike landet er kjønnslemlestet. Inngrepet kan forårsake sterilitet, barseldød, infeksjoner og tap av seksuell nytelse. Praksisen har allerede vært forbudt i noen nigerianske delstater, men er nå forbudt i hele landet.
It is estimated that 125 million girls and women globally are living with the effects of FGM, which is most widespread in Africa and the Middle East. The Guardian recently launched a global media campaign to end the practice, with backing from the United Nations Population Fund, in order to help local journalists report on FGM and shed light on its consequences.
The news of Nigeria’s ban was welcomed by campaigners who hope it will have a knock-on effect in other African nations where FGM is still legal and widely practised.
“This is fantastic news and a landmark moment. We are now one step closer to ending this harmful practice,” said UK international development secretary Justine Greening.
As the most populous country in Africa, Nigeria’s decision carries significant weight, but it would need to be implemented effectively, said Mary Wandia, FGM programme manager of Equality Now.
“With such a huge population, Nigeria’s vote in favour of women and girls is hugely important,” she said. “We hope, too, that the other African countries which have yet to ban FGM – including Liberia, Sudan and Mali, among others – do so immediately to give all girls a basic level of protection.”
Andre understreker at kampen for å gjøre slutt på kjønnslemlestelse i løpet av èn generasjon langt fra er over, og påpeker at det er avgjørende at holdninger såvel som lover blir endret.
– Større anstrengelser for å endre tradisjonelle kulturelle synspunkter som understøtter vold mot kvinner er avgjørende. Bare slik kan denne skadelige praksisen bli eliminert, sier direktør for kjønn, vold og rettigheter ved det internasjonale senteret for kvinneforskning, Stella Mukasa.
Tanya Barron, chief executive of the global children’s charity Plan UK, said prosecution must be just one strand of international efforts to end FGM. “This must be centred on working with girls and their communities to ensure that they know the risks of this human rights violation,” she said.
“What is encouraging is that we are talking more and more about FGM. This is crucial to break the taboos around the subject and to help ensure that, in future, girls can live free from the risks it brings.”
The Guardian: Nigeria’s female genital mutilation ban is important precedent, say campaigners