TWEET CONFERENCE: Partnering with Religious Leaders in the Campaign to end FGM/C – Ademola Adebisi 13.04.2017

1. You are welcome to today #endfgm tweeter conference @endcuttinggirls @UNICEF @UNFPANigeria #endcuttinggirls

2. I will like 2start with FGM/C is a Partial or total removal/ massaging of d female external genitalia for no medical reasons. #endcuttinggirls

3. There are 4 types of FGM/C. TYPE I-IV all of which is harmful to girls & women health. #endcuttinggirls

4. Types; (i) Clitoridectomy (ii) Excision (iii) Infibulation (iv) Unclassified. Most practiced in Nigeria is 1&2 #endcuttinggirls

5. 200 million girls&women alive are cut in 30 countries in Africa, d Middle East &Asia where FGM is concentrated. #endcuttinggirls

6. To reduce FGM, strategies must be multi-sectoral and involve all stakeholders at different levels #endcuttinggirls

7. Nigerians take opinions of their religious leader’s serious @RCCG_ADEBOYE @pastorpoju @DavidOyedepoMin @muftimenk #endcuttinggirls

8. Hence religious leaders are great pillars to end FGM/C @jag_bros, @T_Bakare, @sam_adeyemi, @endcuttinggirls, @muftimenk, #endcuttinggirls

9. It was Banned by Islam due to the compelling evidence of the extensive damage it causes to the women’s bodies and minds.” #endcuttinggirls

10. The former Grand Mufti of Egypt Ali Gomaa stated in 2007 that “The traditional form of FGM/C is a practice totally banned #endcuttinggirls

11. Globally 3m are at risk of FGM/C, 19.9m girls are survivors of FGM/C in Nigeria. It’s time we partner with religious leaders #endcuttinggirls

12. Religious leaders are key partners to #endcuttinggirls @endcuttinggirls

13. Partnering religious leaders in lectures & sensitization on the dangers & hazard involved in FGM/C #endcuttinggirls

14. How do we engage religious leader? #endcuttinggirls

i. Through high level advocacy to all religious leaders and religious stakeholders #endcuttinggirls
ii. Mobilization and sensitization of religious leader (League of Imams, CAN and PFN) endcuttinggirls

15. Religious leader should leverage on naming ceremony to sensitize parent and audience on the effect of FGM/C #endcuttinggirls

16. “Religious leaders are seen has God’s oracle” by their followers, whatever that comes out of their mouth is from God #endcuttinggirls

17. Religious leader should also include the message of Endfgm for the pregnant women at the mission house in churches #endcuttinggirls

18. The message of Endfgm should also be included in marriage counseling for intending couples in churches #endcuttinggirls

19. Message of Endfgm should be included in the church youth conventions and all other church programmes #endcuttinggirls

20. Muslims gather at least five times a day, and this is an avenue to discuss FGM on daily basis. #endcuttinggirls

21. Muslims gather in large quantity on Fridays for Jumat prayer. This is another avenue to meet larger congregation on FGM. #endcuttinggirls

22. Making Friday sermons be based on FGM would give it more importance, and a wider reach. #endcuttinggirls

23. Followers will attach more importance to issues relating to FGM if Imams preach against it on Friday sermons. #endcuttinggirls

24. Muslim have denominations/ prayer groups that meet on Sundays. This is another avenue to discuss FGM. #endcuttinggirls

25. Fortunately, majority of these groups have more females than their male counterpart. #endcuttinggirls

26. Discussing FGM with them will be of immense benefit. #endcuttinggirls

27. Some of them might be willing to share their experiences and educate others of what they are going through. #endcuttinggirls

28. Discussing FGM in weekly prayer group gathering will give room for men involvement in #endcuttinggirls.

29. Religious leaders should consider FGM as part of causes of issues in marriages when couples come for counseling. #endcuttinggirls

30. Effects of FGM should be discussed with couples when they come for counseling. #endcuttinggirls

31. Religious leaders should include discussions of FGM in their sermons during solemnization. #endcuttinggirls

32. New couples should be discouraged to mutilate their girl child when they have one. #endcuttinggirls

33. At naming ceremony or child dedication programmes, FGM should be discussed. #endcuttinggirls

34. This will serve as reminders to young/new parents and not to mutilate their girl child. #endcuttinggirls

35. It will even serve as an avenue to discuss FGM at length in case issues arise, and educate people more. #endcuttinggirls

36. FGM could be discussed in crusades and other religious gathering. #endcuttinggirls

37. Young people about to get married should be counseled before marriage on issues relating to FGM #endcuttinggirls

38. FGM/C is condemned in Bible and Quran because it endangered the girl child’s life #endcuttinggirls

39. Scholars in Islam have declared FGM/C to be un-Islamic and acts that should be abolished #endcuttinggirls, @muftimenk

40. It was not stated anywhere in Quran that girl’s child should be mutilated #endcuttinggirls, @muftimenk

41. Partnering with religious leader will help to lay more emphases to holy book where it was against FGM/C (Genesis 12-17) #endcuttinggirls

42. FGM practice should also be part of the message in churches and mosques, strategic way of #endcuttinggirls

43. Christian doctrine is clear on the sanctity of human body, No reason to mutilate girl’s child #endcuttinggirls

44. FGM is a sensitive and emotive subject. It is essential that religious leaders are involve in #endcuttinggirls

45. Together we will end FGM/C in this generation #endcuttinggirls