TRANSCRIPT ON “THEROLEOFYOUNG PEOPLE IN ACCELERATING FGM/C ABANDONEMENT ON THURSDAY 17TH AUGUST,2017”

  1. Good evening.Welcome to today’s tweet conference. I am @VARCENigeria, your anchor, and my co-anchors are @cynthiaomo02 and @rayokpani…#EndCuttingGirls
  2. Today, we shall be focusing on the topic on “THE ROLE OF YOUNG PEOPLE IN ACCELERATING FGMC ABANDONEMENT”#EndCuttingGirls
  3. FGM/C stands for Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting. #EndCuttingGirls @endcuttinggirls

 

4a. FGM/C refers to all procedures involving partial or total removal of the external female genitalia #EndCuttingGirls @endcuttinggirls

 

4b.or other injury to the female genital organs for cultural or other non-medical reasons #EndCuttingGirls @endcuttinggirls

 

5a. The World Health Organisation (WHO) classifies FGM/C into 4 types. #endcuttinggirls.  @endcuttinggirls

 

5b. Type 1: partial or total removal of the clitoris and/or the prepuce (Clitoridectomy). #endcuttinggirls

 

5c.Type 2: partial or total removal of clitoris and labia minora, with or without excision of & labia majora (excision). #endcuttinggirls

 

5d. Type 3: narrowing the vaginal opening by appositioning labia minora or labia majora, with/without excision of clitoris (infibulation)

 

5e. Type 4: unclassified:all other harmful procedures to the female genitalia for non-medical purposes, e.g. cauterization. #endcuttinggirls

 

6a. The centuries-old practice of FGM/C is a social norm, #EndCuttingGirls @endcuttinggirls

 

6b.buttressed by underlying gender structures &power relations and deeply rooted in tradition.#EndCuttingGirls @endcuttinggirls

 

  1. In Africa, FGM/C is known to be practiced among certain communities in 29 countries, including Nigeria. #EndCuttingGirls @endcuttinggirls

 

  1. FGM/C is usually carried out by elderly people in the community (usually, but not exclusively, women) #EndCuttingGirls @endcuttinggirls

 

8b…designated to perform this task or by traditional birth attendants#EndCuttingGirls @endcuttinggirls

 

  1. Where it is widely practiced, FGM/C is supported by both men and women, usually without question, #EndCuttingGirls @endcuttinggirls

 

9b. and anyone that does not follow the norm may face condemnation, harassment and ostracism. #EndCuttingGirls @endcuttinggirls

 

10a. Where FGM/C is a social norm; it is difficult for families to abandon it without support from the wider community. #EndCuttingGirls

 

10b. In these communities, it is often practiced even when it is known to inflict harm upon girls #EndCuttingGirls @endcuttinggirls

 

10c. because the perceived social benefits of the practice are deemed higher than its disadvantages. #EndCuttingGirls @endcuttinggirls

11a. What role can young people play in FGM/C abandonment in Nigeria? #EndCuttingGirls @endcuttinggirls

11b. the role that young people plays in ending FGM/C cannot be over emphasis #EndCuttingGirls

  1. young people must scale up Awareness Creation in order to #EndCuttingGirls @endcuttinggirls
  2. Although FGM/C was banned in Nigeria in May 2015 by the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan, many communities still practice this painful act. #EndCuttingGirls @endcuttinggirls
  3. Where cultural beliefs and societal force parents to let their girl children go through this excruciatingly painful and medically unnecessary procedure. #EndCuttingGirls @endcuttinggirls

15a. Young people must hhighlight the harmful health implications of FGM to parents and traditional leaders in communities where it is practiced #EndCuttingGirls @endcuttinggirls

15b…… explaining that girl children who do not undergo FGM grow up to be healthy women and no less female than girls who undergo FGM/C #EndCuttingGirls @endcuttinggirls

  1. Young people taking up this awareness creation would go a long way is changing the mindset of communities that still practice FGM/C. #EndCuttingGirls @endcuttinggirls
  2. The awareness must involve all stakeholders, most importantly young people because they are predominantly affected #EndCuttingGirls @endcuttinggirls
  3. To end FGM/C young people must seek government support to sustain the campaign to #EndCuttingGirls @endcuttinggirls

19a. For FGM/C to end in Nigeria in this generation, young people need the government’s support and    strong political commitment to enact strict penalties for those who still practice FGM #EndCuttingGirls @endcuttinggirls

19b. Though this has already begun but still need more commitment from all stakeholders #EndCuttingGirls @endcuttinggirls

  1. Young people can lead the way in tackling development, gender, and health issues, and they can lead the way to ending the practice of FGM/C. We just need to be given the chance.
  2. Young people can lead the way in tackling development, gender, and health issues, and this will lead to ending the practice of FGM/C. #EndCuttingGirls @endcuttinggirls
  3. Young people must engage schools and religious leaders to #EndCuttingGirls @endcuttinggirls
  4. To end FGM/C in Nigeria, young people must engage with those who can sway communities. #EndCuttingGirls @endcuttinggirls
  5. Young people should engage with religious leaders to speak out against FGM/C. #EndCuttingGirls @endcuttinggirls

25a. Nigeria is made up of highly developed and diversified religious groups #EndCuttingGirls @endcuttinggirls

25b. …and much religious leaders are given enormous respect and weight in Nigerian society. #EndCuttingGirls @endcuttinggirls

  1. Based on the respect they carry, it would be easier for religious leaders to convince parents and community leaders to stop the practice of FGM/C. #EndCuttingGirls @endcuttinggirls
  2. Young people should go directly into schools and talk to students, especially girls, about the dangers of FGM/C #EndCuttingGirls @endcuttinggirls
  3. Young people must be strengthen to monitor and enforce abandonment FGM/C EndCuttingGirls @endcuttinggirls
  4. Young people must see the impact of partnering with regulatory bodies in other to #endcuttinggirls since this is another option people fall to. @endcuttinggirls
  5. Young people must start a discussion about the practice of FGM/C within the community.#EndCuttingGirls @endcuttinggirls
  6. Young people must call for the implementation of all laws, provisions prohibiting the practice of FGM and Support FGM survivors. #EndCuttingGirls @endcuttinggirls
  7. They should educate people of the older generations and include them in the campaign to end FGM #EndCuttingGirls @endcuttinggirls
  8. It’s important to note that “There is a limit to what you can impose on communities, #EndCuttingGirls @endcuttinggirls

34a. The involvement and active participation of young people in the community on EndFGM/C programme #EndCuttingGirls @endcuttinggirls

34b. ….designed for the abandonment of FGM/C is very crucial to the achievement of the goal &objective of #EndCuttingGirls @endcuttinggirls

  1. Therefore in commemoration of IYD with the theme “Youth Building Peace” all hand must be on deck to #EndCuttingGirls @endcuttinggirls
  2. The statistical population of youth worldwide shows that young people possess the needed capacity to #EndCuttingGirls @endcuttinggirls
  3. and strength, energy and resolve to influence any issue in the society including the abandonment of FGM. #EndCuttingGirls @endcuttinggirls
  4. As we commemorate International Youth Day, let all of us stand up for peace, as peace is the foundation for our prosperity #EndCuttingGirls @endcuttinggirls
  5. In conclusion, young people are major stakeholder in the fight against FGM/C we must all speak out for the abandonment of FGM/C and for peace #EndCuttingGirls @endcuttinggirls
  6. We have come to the end of today twitter conference. It’s question time. #EndCuttingGirls @endcuttinggirls