I remember the day I gave birth to my daughter. Holding her tiny fingers, I felt an overwhelming sense of love and responsibility. As the celebrations faded, an unsettling thought crept into my mind, would she undergo Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) as I had? The weight of tradition bore heavily on me, but I needed answers. I called my senior sister, my confidante, and asked, “Is it true that there’s a jail term for FGM?” She sighed and confirmed it. “Yes, it is now a crime, and anyone caught performing or aiding it can go to prison.” Her words sent a wave of fear through me. Fear not just of the law, but also of the consequences my daughter might face if she were subjected to the same pain I endured.
I hesitated. “But what if she grows up to be promiscuous? Isn’t that why our mothers did this to us? To keep us in check?” My sister’s voice was firm yet gentle. “Look at my children. They have never been cut, yet they are good children, respectful and disciplined. FGM does not determine a child’s morality. Good parenting does.”
The conversation changed everything. As I had always thought, FGM was an unquestionable rite of passage, something that must be done to protect a girl’s purity and secure her future. But here was my sister, living proof that a girl can grow up whole and still be morally upright. Days later, I attended a capacity-building session on ending FGM (ENGFGM) by HACEY in my community. The facilitators spoke about the dangers of FGM, which included severe pain, infections, childbirth complications, and even death. They also highlighted the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act (VAPP) of 2015, which criminalizes FGM in Nigeria.
The legal consequences were clear:
- Performing or aiding FGM leads to imprisonment of up to four years or a fine of ₦200,000, or both.
- Attempting or engaging another to perform FGM result in two years in jail or a fine of ₦100,000, or both.
- Encouraging or inciting FGM is punishable by law.
I sat in that session, reflecting on my own experience, the pain, the silence, the helplessness. I remembered how I had no choice, how my voice as a child did not matter. But now, as a mother, I had the power to break the cycle. I left the session empowered and determined to protect my daughter. Tradition should not come at the cost of pain and suffering. I decided my daughter would grow up safe, whole, and free from harm. I would educate others, just as my sister and those facilitators had enlightened me.
Many mothers like me stand at a crossroads, caught between tradition and the well-being of their daughters. But we have a choice. We can say no to FGM and embrace healthier, more positive ways of raising our daughters. Let us spread awareness, enforce the law, and support each other in creating a future where no girl has to suffer the horrors of FGM.
On this International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM, let’s stand together. Our daughters deserve a future free from harmful practices.
