The growing impact of female genital mutilation (FGM), early marriage, gender discrimination and other harmful cultural practices on the rights, health and development of women and girls has come under scrutiny as the Programme for Christian-Muslim Relations in Africa (PROCMURA) launched a campaign against the practices in Plateau and Kaduna states.
The campaign, held on Friday, October 16, 2026, at Odillin Event Centre in Jos, Plateau State, brought together religious and traditional leaders, women’s groups, youth representatives, civil society organisations and other stakeholders to address practices that undermine the freedom, dignity and wellbeing of women and girls.
The initiative is being implemented under PROCMURA’s Promoting Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) for Women in Sub-Saharan Africa project, with a focus on strengthening community awareness, encouraging collective action and promoting accountability for violations of women’s rights.
Speaking at the event, PROCMURA Team Lead, Joy Wandabara, said harmful cultural practices remain a challenge across several African countries and require coordinated action by communities, religious institutions and government authorities.
Wandabara stressed the need to promote girls’ education, prevent forced marriages and empower women to participate fully in society, while encouraging communities to preserve positive cultural and religious values and reject practices that cause harm.
She also acknowledged the contributions of women’s organisations and community stakeholders working to address the challenges.
In a keynote lecture, Dr. Yakubu Joseph, Country Coordinator for Mission 21 in Nigeria, said harmful cultural practices continue to undermine the fundamental rights of women and girls, despite protections provided under international and national laws.
Joseph explained that freedom of thought, conscience, religion and belief is recognised under Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 8 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and Section 38(1) of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria, as amended.
He noted that these protections apply equally to women and girls, whose rights are sometimes restricted by cultural expectations, religious interpretations and discriminatory traditions.
According to him, female genital mutilation exposes girls and women to serious health complications, while early and forced marriages deprive many girls of education and opportunities to build independent and productive lives.
Joseph called for increased human rights education and collaboration among religious leaders, traditional institutions, government agencies and civil society organisations to challenge harmful practices.
He emphasised that religious teachings should be used to promote dignity, justice and respect for human rights rather than justify discrimination against women and girls.
Poverty, trafficking increase vulnerability of Plateau girls
Joseph also drew attention to the connection between poverty, conflict, trafficking and the exploitation of vulnerable girls, particularly those seeking economic opportunities outside their communities.
He said some girls from Plateau State have been trafficked along West African routes after being promised employment, only to face sexual exploitation and other forms of abuse.
He cited the rescue and repatriation of three girls on February 19, 2026, coordinated by the Plateau State Gender and Equal Opportunity Commission in collaboration with Ghanaian authorities.
Joseph further highlighted the vulnerability of girls working as domestic servants, noting that the absence of adequate regulation and employment protections can expose them to exploitation and abuse.
He called for stronger accountability mechanisms to ensure that perpetrators of violence and discrimination against women are held responsible, while survivors receive the support needed to recover and rebuild their lives without stigma.
Elder Ambassador Justina Mike Ngwobia, FoRB Coordinator for Women, said violations of women’s freedom of religion or belief are often overlooked because they are presented as accepted cultural or religious practices.
She explained that some women face restrictions on worship, religious expression, clothing choices and participation in religious leadership, while others experience discrimination and abuse within their families and communities.
Ngwobia recounted cases in which women were prevented from attending church by their husbands and described discriminatory traditions that restricted women’s access to certain foods.
She argued that communities can change harmful practices when influential individuals and local leaders challenge discriminatory norms and demonstrate that abandoning such traditions does not bring the consequences people fear.
According to her, the campaign seeks to identify practices that violate women’s rights, create safe spaces for survivors to share their experiences and strengthen community-level advocacy.
Ngwobia also stressed the need to educate residents about existing legal protections, including the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) law, and ensure that communities understand the consequences of sexual violence and other abuses.
She called for stronger collaboration between human rights institutions, legal organisations, religious bodies and grassroots groups to improve awareness and accountability.
Stakeholders urged to turn awareness into action
The campaign featured discussions on the relationship between FGM, early marriage and freedom of religion or belief, alongside testimonies, advocacy sessions and conversations on practical approaches to preventing harmful practices.
Participants were encouraged to develop community-led action plans, strengthen cooperation among faith leaders and women’s groups, and promote the implementation of laws protecting women and girls.
PROCMURA Programme Officer, Rev. Dr. Salli Effixigani, from Cameroon, also highlighted the importance of engaging communities in efforts to challenge harmful practices.
Other contributors, including Hasana Abdulhamid from Tudun Wada in Jos and Venerable Joshua Mallam from Kaduna, underscored the relevance of the initiative in addressing challenges within their respective communities.
The event concluded with an advocacy walk, during which participants carried placards calling for the protection of the rights, dignity and wellbeing of women and girls.
The campaign comes amid calls for more sustained community engagement to ensure that cultural and religious traditions are not used to justify practices that threaten women’s health, limit girls’ education or deny them the freedom to make decisions about their lives.
Stakeholders emphasised that tackling these challenges will require more than awareness campaigns, with sustained education, enforcement of existing laws, economic empowerment and stronger community accountability needed to translate advocacy into lasting change.
