Foundation Lauds BSM Launch

Following concerted efforts by a coalition of African women to end harmful practices against women and the girl-child in the society, a foundation under the aegis of Building Excellent Women (BEW) has commended the launch of the Big Sister Movement (BSM) to fight against Female Genital Mutilation/Circumcision (FGM/C) and Early Child Marriage (ECM) in the continent.
BEW’s Chairperson, Mrs Blessing Wodu made the commendation in an exclusive interview with The Tide in Port Harcourt while reacting to the launch of BSM as part of activities marking this year’s International Women Day celebration, last Thursday.
Wodu expressed optimism that the strategy would deliver quick results, regretting that some of those harmful practices being perpetrated on women and the girl-child were being promoted by fellow women.
“When African women unite over an issue, we get results. When Liberian women united and said enough of men’s domineering role in politics, they got a woman, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, who became the first female African president.”
She stressed that the little girls adorned, dressed and escorted to be married off were not dressed by men but women, adding that it was so disturbing that today; women have shown crass lack of love for fellow women.
The chairperson urged women to begin developing love towards one another, noting that it was the only way the girl-child and women’s voices could be heard in the society.
Wodu also advised the African women to rally support for the Big Sister Movement to ensure realisation of set goals and targets, and advocated severe sanctions against women still practicing female genital mutilation/circumcision and early girl-child marriage.

Susan Serekara-Nwikhana