Nigerians protest ambassador’s FGM denials

dublin | gender and sexuality | news report

Thursday April 09, 2009 21:02

by Sparky

sparky_dublin at yahoo dot ie

Claims by the Nigerian ambassador that female genital mutilation (FGM) is a ‘non-existant’ issue in her country were denounced by a lively, lunchtime protest held today outside the embassy in Ballsbridge and attended by around 35 Nigerians.

Protesters tell the ambassador 'Stop FGM lies'

Dr Kema Chikwe had made the assertions on RTE's 'Would You Believe' (video link below) despite being confronted with data that the practice of FGM remains widespread. Chikwe brushed aside statistics not just from Amnesty International but Nigeria’s own submissions to the UN, which give an average 32% prevalence for FGM, rising to 65% in some parts of the country.

Protesters argued that Chikwe’s intervention in the high-profile Pamela Izevbekhai asylum case was utterly lacking in credibility and brought discredit on Nigeria.

Uche Odinukwe of Cork Anti-Racism Network commented: “The Irish government should know she is not representing us… She should take back her words. Amnesty has a figure, the Ministry of Women’s Affairs has a figure and she is saying FGM does not exist.”

Half an hour into the protest, staff at the embassy offered two representatives a private meeting with the ambassador to raise their concerns. However, protesters refused and demanded that Chikwe should could come out and address the full group.

The ambassador never appeared but she could not have missed the protesters' clear message: they closed the rally with several rousing choruses of: “All we are saying is Chikwe must go.”

VIDEO - footage begins with Uche Odinukwe, of Cork Anti-Racism Network, explaining the feelings behind the protest.