CSOs condemn cultural practices against women

Some Civil Society Organisations have condemned the act of Female Genital Mutilation saying it is gross abuse of women’s rights.

Speaking recently in Limbe, the Coalition of Civil Societies Against Cultural Practices Affecting the Woman castigated, force marriages, breast ironing and Female Genital mutilation and widowhood inheritance as the major cultural practices affecting the woman.

Sponsored by the Global Women Alliance, the 1 day symposium brought together women led organisations as well as victims and parents of victims affected by the aforementioned cultural practices.

The symposium took the form of testimonies and narration of precarious moments undergone by women and the girl child.

One of the cases recorded was that of Adamou Karen Nyela whom last year was faced with both forced marriage and female circumcision in the Far North Region.

Her father narrated that that in 2001, his brothers daughter died from forceful circumcision due to over bleeding reasons why he could not see his own daughter undergoing the same situation.

According to Mr. Nyela, all attempts by the powers that be to force his daughter to undergo FGM and eventually marry in the royal palace, forced him to sell his last piece of land and send her daughter abroad.

A similar narration was given by the parents of Josephine Enyowe Njako who refused to undergo the painful ritual of Female Circumcision and breast ironing.

She has gone into hiding as her parents are begging on rights groups and civil society organisations to intervene in to the matter.

George Eban, the leader of the coalition said from the above narrations, it is evident that women and the girl child are vulnerable and their rights have to be protected.

At the end of the symposium, the participants resolved to join their voices and engage the media to put an end in cultural practices affecting the woman.