Nollywood actress Kate Henshaw has made a heartfelt appeal to eradicate female circumcision, a practice that has left countless women scarred and silenced. As a UNICEF ambassador, Henshaw has taken a bold stance against this harmful tradition, emphasizing that it is not supported by science and has no medical or moral value.
“We need to talk to our gender, women, because we are at the forefront of these harmful practices,” Henshaw urged in an interview with NAN.
“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.”
Henshaw’s words are a call to action, a plea to shatter the silence that has long surrounded this issue. “We should always sound the alarm on anything harmful to another human being,” she said.
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The statistics are staggering. According to UNICEF data, Nigeria has the third-highest rate of female genital mutilation (FGM) worldwide.
This practice, also known as female circumcision, involves the partial or complete removal of the external female genital organs for non-medical purposes.
Henshaw’s message is clear; it’s time to break free from this harmful tradition. “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.”
As we amplify Henshaw’s passionate plea, let us remember that every voice matters in this fight against female circumcision.
Together, we can create a world where every woman and girl can live without fear of this harmful practice.