JOURNAL OF CURRENT DISCOURSE AND RESEARCH (JCDR)
FEMALE GENITAL MUTILALATION: A GENDER BASED VIOLENCE EXPERIENCE IN EKITI STATE, NIGERIA
Keywords:
Female Genital Mutilation, Gender-Based Violence, Ekiti State Gender-Based Violence (Prohibition) Law 2019, Patriarchy and Culture, Social Learning Theory, Legislative EffectivenessAbstract
Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) represents a significant form of gender-based violence, with Nigeria recorded as having the highest absolute prevalence globally. Driven by patriarchal norms and cultural traditions, the practice persisted despite the presence of federal legislation, leading to the enactment of the Ekiti State Female Genital Mutilation Prohibition Act (2019). This study evaluates the awareness, suitability, and effectiveness of the Act using social learning, femicide, and culture theories. Employing a methodology of structured questionnaires and personal interviews, the research reveals that while the Act demonstrated effectiveness, public awareness remains insufficient. Furthermore, participants perceived the existing legal penalties as weak and non-threatening. To achieve total eradication in Ekiti State, the study recommends implementing more stringent penalties and launching comprehensive public awareness campaigns to ensure that the legal consequences are widely understood and feared.
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