TW for FGM, violence against womenNigeria’s President Signs Off On Banning Female Genital Muti

TW for FGM, violence against womenNigeria’s President Signs Off On Banning Female Genital MutilationA quarter of women aged 15-49 in Africa’s most populous country have undergone the practice, according to United Nations data.“Nigeria’s outgoing President Goodluck Jonathan this week signed off on a bill that outlaws female genital mutilation (FGM), also known as female genital cutting, a widespread practice in Africa’s most populous country.Nigerian women’s rights and public health groups have long campaigned against FGM, removes parts or all of a girl’s genitalia, often at a very young age and without the girl’s consultation or consent, saying that it violates human rights. The procedure has also led to severe health problems.A quarter of Nigerian women aged 15-49 have undergone FGM, according to 2014 UNICEF data. Reasons for FGM vary by country and by practicing group but the ritual is usually seen as marking a girl as ready for marriage. The practice is also intended to control a girl’s or woman’s sexual appetite, according to a separate UNICEF report.The Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act was passed by Nigeria’s Senate in early May and signed off by Jonathan on Monday, according to local media.Women’s health advocates in Nigeria confirmed the development to BuzzFeed News.The new law seeks to protect women on a range of fronts. It also sets out punishments for offenses such as throwing a spouse out of their home and traditional rituals that discriminate against widows, according to local media reports this week.”Read the full piece here#WhyWeNeedFeminism -- source link

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