In observance of this year’s International Day of Zero Tolerance on Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), a consortium of civil society activists, under the banner, National Working Group against FGM, has called on elders and chiefs of the Traditional Council and the government to ban the evil.
“We welcome and applaud the reaffirmation from our chiefs, elders and Government of Liberia (GOL) to suspend FGM activities in Liberia for the next three years,” the consortium of civil society said in a press release.
NAWOGA-FGM and ActionAid Liberia’s one-day stakeholder dialogue in Monrovia was held under the theme, “Retrospective Moment on Gains made, Challenges and Prospect to Ending FGM”.
The NAWOGA-FGM consortium, in its press release, outlined gains made over the years, which include the breaking of silence on public dialogue on FGM, the drafting of an anti-FGM bill, endurance of June 25, 2019 policy statement suspending FGM for one year and cordial coexistence between the National Traditional Council of Chiefs and Elders and NAWOGA-FGM.
According to the release, it is a disservice to them for an international body to hijack from them what they have worked for over the years, making it to appear like the gains were exclusively theirs. The group further stated that it would not have been possible for any international body to penetrate the system of the Traditional Council if they, NAWOGA-FGM members, had not decided to take the bullets.
“Working with our Traditional Council of Chiefs and Elders is welcoming, but respect and give credit to the front-liners. You will leave, we will still have to keep engaging, lobbying and advocating for the desirable gains to be sustained,” it said.
Counting on the gains made, the group applauded the National Traditional Council of Chiefs and Elders for the tolerance and openness, considering coming around the table to discuss and affirm their willingness to end the practice.
However, it said its recent dialogue was a reflection meeting held in Bong County from February 3—4, 2022, where Traditional Council of Chiefs and Elders from the 11 practicing counties of FGM reaffirmed their commitment to suspend the practice of FGM. It however observed that this should not be lip-service but actualized through robust monitoring and enforcement of penalties on violators.
“For too long we have witnessed policies not enforced. It is better to not have policies than to have and not use it. We welcome the new commitment; at the same time we urge our chiefs and elders to go beyond words, but act appropriately.”
According to the group, Liberia has repeatedly been reminded of its obligation to legislate a law to end FGM in Liberia. It stated that the Traditional Council of Chiefs and Elders have reaffirmed their willingness to end the practice through a seven-count policy statement.
“It is now time for more closer partnerships to exist between NAWOGA-FGM, the National Traditional Council of Chiefs and the government through the ministries of Internal Affairs, Gender, Children and Social Protection and Justice to jointly monitor the adherence to the policy,” the group said.
The government, through the Justice Ministry, pledged its support to work with the women to minimize the act, but said it will take time because citizens are involved with the practice, which makes it difficult to do away with abruptly.