Published: September 20, 2024
MONROVIA – The Child Resource Institute Liberia Inc. has petitioned the House Committee on Gender, Children, and Social Protection, urging the reintroduction of legislation to ban Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) across Liberia. The petition, delivered on September 19, 2024, by student Patience Duah on behalf of the institute, calls for the passage of an act that criminalizes FGM and safeguards women and girls from its harmful effects.
In its petition, the Child Resource Institute emphasized that despite a previous ban by the National Traditional Council of Chiefs, FGM is still practiced in some regions, particularly in Central, North, and Western Liberia. The institute urged lawmakers to pass legislation that would align Liberia with its international human rights commitments.
“There are no acceptable reasons that justify FGM,” the petition stated. “FGM is a violation of the fundamental human rights of women and girls. It is a harmful cultural practice with no health benefits, and it must stop.”
The petition referenced international conventions such as the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), both ratified by Liberia. These treaties obligate member states to prohibit and criminalize FGM. The petition also cited the African Union’s Maputo Protocol, which calls for the elimination of harmful cultural practices like FGM.
The Child Resource Institute highlighted efforts by other African countries to combat FGM, noting that nations such as The Gambia, Kenya, and Ethiopia have passed laws criminalizing the practice. “We urge the Liberian government to follow the example of these countries and take the necessary legislative steps to protect the rights of women and girls,” the petition read.
“We hear you, and we are with you,” said Hon. Moima Briggs-Mensah, Chair of the House Committee on Gender, Children, and Social Protection, who accepted the petition on behalf of the committee. She assured the public that the committee would carefully review the petition and work to reintroduce a bill that would outlaw FGM. “There are parts of our culture that we treasure, but we must ensure that harmful practices like FGM are eliminated,” Briggs-Mensah said.
She added, “We know that FGM has been a long-standing issue, and we are committed to working with our male colleagues and other stakeholders to pass legislation that will protect our girls and women from this harmful practice. We must protect the future of our children.”
The petition comes at a critical time, following a resurgence of FGM ceremonies in Margibi and Nimba counties. On September 14 and 15, 2024, traditional leaders in Margibi County’s Zenah Hill Sande Society and Nimba County’s Yarmie Administrative District conducted public ceremonies where over 30 girls, including minors, were paraded and reintegrated into their communities after undergoing FGM. These events have sparked renewed concerns about the persistence of the practice despite prior efforts to curtail it.
The Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection condemned the recent incidents, expressing disappointment in the continued practice of FGM. In a strongly worded statement, the Ministry reiterated its position that FGM is a human rights violation with no health benefits. “We are deeply concerned by these developments, which undermine the government’s efforts to eradicate FGM and protect women and girls in Liberia,” the statement read. “FGM causes severe health risks, including excessive bleeding, infections, psychological trauma, and even death.”
The Ministry emphasized the need for stronger legislation to curb the practice, highlighting that FGM has no medical justification and poses a serious risk to the lives of women and girls. “The time to end FGM is now. We must pass laws that criminalize the practice and ensure that no girl in Liberia is subjected to this harmful tradition,” the statement concluded.
FGM, often rooted in cultural and traditional beliefs about preserving virginity and preparing girls for marriage, continues to be practiced in some rural parts of Liberia. However, rights groups, including the Child Resource Institute, argue that these beliefs are misguided and that FGM does more harm than good. The practice not only violates women’s rights but also jeopardizes their health and well-being.
With the petition now in the hands of the House Committee on Gender, Children, and Social Protection, advocacy groups hope that the Liberian government will take swift action to end the practice of FGM once and for all. The Child Resource Institute’s appeal has reignited the national debate on FGM, with calls for urgent legislative intervention to bring lasting change.
“We must take decisive steps to end this harmful practice,” said Hon. Briggs-Mensah. “Our children deserve a future free from violence, and we will work to make sure that happens.”
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