The Rivers State Government, in collaboration with UNICEF and UNFPA, has launched a three-day training programme aimed at eliminating Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in the state.
The training, which commenced at the Women Affairs Complex in Port Harcourt, brought together 60 community-based facilitators, predominantly women, to equip them with the tools to raise awareness and educate communities on the health risks and legal consequences of FGM.
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation, Prof. Justina Jumbo, condemned the practice as a violation of the rights and dignity of women and girls. She emphasized that FGM inflicts long-term physical and psychological harm, and stressed the state’s commitment to enforcing laws prohibiting harmful traditional practices.
She urged the participants to take the message to rural areas and warned that individuals found guilty of performing or supporting FGM would face legal sanctions.
