Nollywood Actress Kate Henshaw has advocated for the cessation of the Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) practice and strongly urged perpetrators to cease the act.

In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja on Saturday, Henshaw, a UNICEF champion, advocated for the cause.

The practice of female genital mutilation (FGM) is recognized globally as a violation of the rights of girls and women.

It involves altering or injuring the female genitalia for non-medical reasons.

As of 2023, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that approximately 230 million girls and women worldwide have undergone some form of female genital mutilation (FGM). Additionally, it is projected that approximately 68 million girls are at risk of experiencing FGM between 2015 and 2030.

It”is important to note that Nigeria has the third highest prevalence of FGM, accounting for approximately one-tenth of the 230 million female FGM survivors worldwide. This places Nigeria as the country with the highest burden of FGM in Africa.

The organization also noted a concerning trend in Nigeria and many parts of Africa, where an increasing number of girls are subjected to the practice at younger ages, with many experiencing it before their fifth birthday.

Strongly condemning the practice, therefore, Henshaw said “the act is not supported by science and has no medical or moral value attached to it.”

She strongly advised women who perform the practice on others to cease doing so and instead become advocates against it in order to safeguard the well-being of women.

She emphasized that “the very women who carry out this practice hold the power to put an end to it.

“Times have changed, we are in the 21st century, we cannot be talking about practices that harm, but should be talking about things that will add value to the female child.”

It Is crucial to maintain an ongoing dialogue regarding this matter to ensure that all members of society are fully informed about the progress made by advocates who have been diligently campaigning against this practice.

Efforts have been made by various stakeholders to ensure the complete eradication of FGM in Nigeria.

She advocated for increased efforts, particularly on the domestic front, emphasizing the need to engage in conversations with women, as they are at the forefront of these detrimental practices.

“Women are the gatekeepers to some of the harmful practices, we have some for widowhood too, even domestic violence, child abuse is sometimes perpetrated by women.

“So, we need to be more empathetic, give ourselves a chance, give young girls a chance to grow, to have a life because there’s nothing to be gained from FGM.

“We should always sound the alarm on anything that is harmful to another human being,” she added.