From Jude Dangwam, Jos
The International Federation of Women Lawyers(FIDA) Nigeria, has frown against breast ironing among other harmful traditional practices that dehumanised women and the girl child in the society.
Chairperson FIDA Plateau state branch, Naankus Fyaktu said such a harmful traditional practice of ironing the breasts of young girls by parents is against the human rights and dignity of those persons.
Fyaktu stated this during the annual Dialogue with the Plateau State Council of Traditional Leaders on Preventing Violence Against Women and Girls 2025 recently held at the Fox Hotel in Jos the Plateau State capital.
“Breast ironing is one harmful traditional practices where girls had their breasts ironed so that the breasts does not come out in time. Is often said that that’s a way of trying to make them not to be promiscuous or attractive to men.
“You know these days, you see young girls from age 11, 12 to 13 years some of them are already bursty, so their breasts are iron. And these parents do this in ignorance feeling they’re protecting the girls so that they won’t be visible to the male folks and they won’t be raped or abused. But that on it’s own is a violation of their human rights because it comes with health implication eventually.” She expressed worried
The Chairperson noted that few cases were recorded on the Plateau unlike other societies in Nigeria. “We have received few cases but is not rampant yet on the Plateau but is mostly in some other parts of Nigeria.
“This is one among other harmful traditional practices we discovered in our communities, like inheritance, most times women are not allowed to inherit what their father’s or their husband’s.
“So, whichever way they found themselves, they’re disadvantages, as daughters and as wife’s they run into another double jopady by not allowed to inherit their husband’s.
“And this is against what the constitution says on discrimination against women in Section 34 of the Nigerian constitution, is clear that we are all equal and no body should discriminate another,” she explained
The Chairperson maintained that most times some of the harmful practices are been promoted through the traditional institutions hence the need for traditional rulers to speak against such practices.
The Chairperson of the Plateau State Gender and Equal Opportunity Commission Barr. Olivia Dazyem noted that some traditional practices have been criminalise hence the need for traditional rulers and communities to also adjust and avoid being caught off by the laws of the land.
“Our traditional leaders are now understanding the message with a resolved to go back and do something especially on the negatives traditional practices that has affected their communities like the female genital mutilation, inheritance among others.
“A community by-law should say this traditional practice or that we don’t want it again, some of the traditional practices have been criminalise if they don’t know. We have the Violence Against Persons (VAP) law on the Plateau, we have the Gender and Equal Opportunity law on the Plateau, we have the Child’s Right Law on the Plateau, and the Penal Code Law itself.” She cautioned
The Senior Manager, Programs, Partnerships and Operations Mr. Fikih Obaro noted that the engagement towards a by-law is part of the sustainability plan where harmful practices will be eliminated and replaced with civil way of life.