Published: January 26, 2026
MONROVIA — The Association of Female Lawyers of Liberia (AFELL) is urging lawmakers to fast-track a proposed bill that would criminalize female genital mutilation (FGM) and other harmful practices, after political pushback in the House of Representatives stalled legislative action despite years of advocacy.
AFELL Vice President Cllr. Bowoulo Taylor Kelley renewed the call during the third convening of the Clooney Foundation for Justice’s Waging Justice for Women Fellowship in Ghana, where she argued Liberia must move from policy promises to enforceable protection for women and girls.
“This bill arises from Liberia’s national obligation to protect the dignity, rights and health of all Liberians,” Kelley said. “For too long, harmful traditional practices have thrived in the absence of explicit criminal sanctions.”
A Persistent Human Rights Concern
FGM remains a major public health and human rights concern in Liberia, particularly in rural and traditional communities. Estimates by UNICEF and the U.N. Population Fund suggest 35% to 45% of Liberian women ages 15 to 49 have undergone some form of FGM, with higher rates in counties where initiation practices remain entrenched.
Liberia is among a shrinking number of West African countries without a comprehensive law explicitly criminalizing FGM. While temporary executive moratoriums and child protection statutes have been introduced over the years, rights advocates say they lack permanence, enforceability and survivor-centered remedies.
The World Health Organization classifies FGM as a human rights violation and a form of gender-based violence, linking it to complications including hemorrhage, infections, childbirth injuries, psychological trauma and death.
A Bill Years in the Making
President Joseph Nyuma Boakai submitted the Women and Girls Protection Act to the National Legislature in October 2025, following more than two decades of advocacy led by AFELL, grassroots women’s organizations and international partners.
The bill seeks to criminalize FGM and related harmful practices, establish penalties for perpetrators and accomplices, provide protection and rehabilitation services for survivors, and align Liberia’s domestic laws with international and regional obligations.
Kelley said the legislation would advance Liberia’s commitments under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the Maputo Protocol, and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).
Political Resistance in the House
Despite broad civil society support, the bill has faced stiff resistance in the House of Representatives.
On Nov. 18, 2025, legislative proceedings were disrupted when a group of lawmakers halted debate, chanting, “No gay bill, no FGM bill!”
Among the lawmakers opposing the measure were Reps. J. Marvin Cole of Bong County, Anthony Williams of Maryland County, and Yekeh Y. Kolubah of Montserrado County. They argued the legislation was being advanced while a separate proposal targeting the LGBTQ+ community remained stalled.
Rep. Eugene Kollie of Bong County later said, “This bill will not appear here,” while Kolubah added, “This paper will never surface on this floor.”
The confrontation ended with a motion introduced by Cole to send the bill to all 73 electoral districts for nationwide consultations. Supporters framed the move as an attempt to balance human rights, cultural values and national development priorities. Critics, however, said it effectively delayed urgent protections for women and girls.
Strategic Reframing, New Amendments
In an effort to reduce resistance, the joint legislative committee chaired by Rep. Moima Briggs Mensah has proposed amendments, including renaming the bill the “Women and Girls Protection Act of 2025.”
Supporters say the adjustment reframes the legislation as a protection measure rather than a cultural confrontation. Advocates, however, warn that any compromise must not weaken the bill’s core provisions.
Regional Engagement, International Support
AFELL has also increased its regional partnerships. At the Ghana convening, Attorney Lauretta Mammah of the Clooney Foundation for Justice was recognized for completing a one-year fellowship with AFELL, while Attorney Bendu Kpoto was inducted as AFELL’s new fellow during a human rights lawyers conference in Tema.
The Waging Justice for Women Fellowship supports women lawyers working in high-risk environments, and AFELL is among a small number of African institutions selected as a host organization.
A Defining Moment
As debate continues, rights advocates warn that delays leave girls exposed to preventable harm.
“This is not merely a legal debate,” Kelley said. “It is a moral test of Liberia’s commitment to equality, dignity and the protection of its most vulnerable citizens.”
With regional and international attention increasing, activists say the fate of the Women and Girls Protection Act could shape Liberia’s human rights legacy for years to come.
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