Shina Abubakar, Osogbo

In a bid to eradicate harmful practices against women and girls, a non-profit organization, Action Health Incorporated, has stressed the need to deploy culture and tradition to fight rising cases of gender-based violence, GBV, and female genital mutilation, FGM, in Osun State.

Speaking at the One-Day symposium held at Fakunle Grammar School Hall, Osogbo, the project officer, of Action Health Incorporated, Fatimah Idris, stressed the need to tackle GVB and FGM at the grassroots level.

The 16 days of activism against gender-based violence, which was organized by Action Health Incorporated in collaboration withthe Ministry of Women, children and social affairs, was funded by United Nations Population Funds, UNFPA.

According to her, we have highlighted the organization’s multi-pronged approach, which includes engaging with policymakers, training law enforcement agencies, and empowering communities to advocate for change.

“Today we are having a symposium where we are using different means including culture, and entertainment among others to pass information about the effect and danger of gender base violence.

“Coming down to the grassroots, one of the things they understand is using there culture, and we are adopting that, we have involved traditional leaders, cultural groups that are using the usual drama to pass information about the effect Gender base violence and where necessary reports can be made.”

Meanwhile, the Head of the UNFPA Lagos Liaison Office, Abbigail Msemburi, emphasized the need to address harmful cultural practices rooted in tradition.

She added that the UNFPA is working collaboratively with traditional leaders, government agencies, and community partners to raise awareness about the dangers of FGM and other harmful practices.

She said, “As much as communities believe they are following tradition, we find that these traditions often violate the rights of girls. At UNFPA, we are committed to ensuring zero tolerance for gender-based violence, including FGM”.