Monrovia, Liberia – Adolescent girls from Liberia made their voices heard loud and clear at the historic Regional Girls’ Summit in Dakar, Senegal, where they joined peers from 23 other West and Central African nations to demand urgent action on their rights. High on their agenda was the fervent call to end Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and ensure the Liberian government turns legislative talks into concrete laws that protect every girl.
The two-day summit, held on October 10-11, coincided with the International Day of the Girl and brought together over 250 participants, including young leaders, government officials, and development partners like UNICEF. It was a groundbreaking platform where girls, for the first time, co-created and presented their own “Dakar Declaration and Program of Action,” a powerful roadmap for their future.
Liberia’s delegation, including adolescent representatives and Deputy Minister Laura Golakeh from the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, played a crucial role. Among them was 17-year-old Jophelia Quayee, head of “Children Voices” that falls under the mother organization “The Voice of the Voiceless” a local advocacy and development group, who spoke about the ongoing struggle against FGM in her homeland. “The government can support adolescent girls and their mothers by instituting social protection policies such as ending FGM by enacting laws that make it a punishable crime,” Jophelia asserted, clearly pushing a demand echoed by girls across the region. She also called for improved sexual reproductive health rights and a 50% reduction in Gender Sexual Based Violence by 2029.
Jophelia’s words strike a chord in Liberia, where two anti-FGM bills are currently stalled in the Legislature. One bill advocates for the outright criminalization of FGM, while the other proposes it as a matter of consent for adults aged eighteen and above. Yet, neither has garnered sufficient political will for passage. Many lawmakers reportedly fear losing political favor and votes from rural constituents, where FGM is deeply entrenched. This legislative gridlock stands in stark contrast to the unified message from Dakar, where the “Dakar Declaration” explicitly denounced FGM, stating, “We denounce female genital mutilation, which persists despite existing laws, and demand real monitoring of their application.”
This regional consensus provides powerful backing for those in Liberia advocating for stronger protective laws. Andrew Brooks, UNICEF Liberia Country Representative, also shed light on Liberia’s unique challenges and the resilience of its girls. “One word that comes to my mind when I hear about change for girls is ‘Courage’,” he noted. Brooks recalled the impactful contributions of Liberian girls during the disarmament process after the civil war and the Ebola crisis, emphasizing, “They can do even better when given the right support.” He acknowledged the Liberian government’s ongoing program to take children, particularly girls aged 13 to 15, off the streets and place them in school. However, he cautioned, “retention is a major challenge; some of the classrooms are not large enough, teachers are overwhelmed,” stressing that there is still a lot to be done.
His comments underscore the need for comprehensive support, not just enrollment, but ensuring quality education and safe, conducive learning environments. The Dakar Summit reinforced that investing in girls is not just a human rights imperative but a strategic economic one, with evidence suggesting every dollar allocated can generate a tenfold return.
UNICEF Representative to Liberia, Andrew Brooks
For Liberia, tackling FGM and improving girls’ access to quality education and health are not just moral obligations but pathways to a more prosperous and stable future.
But the pressure to eradicate FGM has resulted in only temporary measures, which have proven largely ineffective. In 2018, on her final day in office, former president Ellen Johnson Sirleaf signed an executive order imposing a one-year ban on FGM. This was followed by a one-year ban from the National Council of Chiefs and Elders of Liberia (NACCEL) in 2019, as well as the three-year moratorium in 2022 and the “permanent ban” declared in 2023.
There are several challenges associated with placing the responsibility for enforcing a ban on NACCEL. According to some legal experts, a ban issued by the traditional council lacks legal authority. While the council wields traditional influence over the affected communities, it is uncertain how it can enforce compliance with its prohibitions with some traditional chiefs and elders believed to be actively supporting FGM. Therefore, assigning the issue of FGM to NACCEL means that any action taken depends on the political will of the leadership at any given time.
Dounard Bondo, a Liberian Lawyer shares the view that implementing a law criminalizing FGM could address all of these challenges; the government and its agencies would have the necessary capacity to oversee and enforce a legal ban across Liberia. Individuals like Jophelia believe that the possibility of facing legal consequences would have a stronger deterrent effect on the continuation of FGM.
In addition to enacting the law, the lawyer recommends that the Liberian government should establish a comprehensive reporting and witness protection system to ensure that FGM cases are properly reported.
As Liberian Deputy Minister Laura Golakeh returns from Dakar, the eyes of young girls like Jophelia, and the entire nation, will be on the government to translate the powerful Dakar Declaration into tangible progress at home.
The call from Dakar is clear: “Girls’ Rights Cannot Wait,”and the girls of Liberia are ready to lead the change.
