Harmful Cultural Practices-A Crime against the Girl Child: A Historical Perspective

Abstract

This paper examines the harmful cultural practices considered as against the girl-child. Girls are victims of negative cultural practices in Nigeria and they are in different forms like early/ forced marriage, genital mutilation, early pregnancy, bonded labour, rape, girls thought to be witches, etc. which have physical, emotional and psychological effects on the girl-child. The Nigerian society is plagued with various incidences of the girl-child assault. The phenomenon has drawn the attention of the world at large. This paper states the causes of harmful cultural practices and their effects on the girl-child. It highlights measures that could be used for the eradication of these unwholesome practices in the society which include involving religious and traditional rulers in enlightening the populace about the dangers in harmful cultural practices and the need to change its attitude towards them. And also, to involve people who had experienced or witnessed these practices in the community.