MONROVIA – A bill aimed at outlawing harmful cultural practices in Liberia, including Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and child marriage, is poised for a critical legislative milestone. The Joint Legislative Committee reviewing the proposed law is expected to validate and submit its report to the full Plenary of the House of Representatives in the coming days.
The Joint Committee, comprising members from Gender Equity, Child Development and Social Services; Judiciary; Internal Affairs; and Health, has just concluded a intensive two-day expert and legislative consultation on the draft legislation. The session, which commenced on Friday, brought together a diverse array of stakeholders to dissect the proposed “Act to Ban Harmful Cultural Practices in Liberia.”
From the outset, the committee’s chairperson, Hon. Moima Briggs-Mensah, signaled a significant potential amendment, arguing that the bill’s original title appeared discriminatory. She proposed renaming it “An Act to Amend Chapter 4, Title 26 of the Penal Code… by Creating a New Sub-Chapter ‘E’ – The Women and Girls Protection Act of 2025,” a move that would frame the law as a protective measure within the existing legal framework.
*The consultations featured extensive presentations from legal and human rights experts, followed by panel sessions that gave a platform to rural women, civil society organizations, and traditional leaders. The discussions were intensely focused on the devastating impacts of harmful practices, the challenges in eradicating them, and the essential mechanisms needed to support survivors.
Representatives from the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection underscored the urgent necessity of the legislation to safeguard women and girls. Echoing this sentiment, Deputy Minister of Justice Cllr. Cora N. Hare Konuwa, speaking as proxy for the Minister, highlighted the delicate but critical balance that must be struck between preserving cultural heritage and upholding fundamental human rights.
International and regional legal perspectives were brought to the fore by Ms. Judy Gitau, Africa Regional Coordinator, who delivered a presentation on the legal and policy dimensions of FGM. Further grounding the debate in Liberia’s international commitments, the Independent National Commission on Human Rights (INCHR) outlined the country’s obligations under treaties like CEDAW and the Maputo Protocol.
The political will behind the bill was reinforced by the Chairperson of the Women’s Legislative Caucus, Hon. Ellen Attoh Wreh, who welcomed the draft but called for meticulous legislative scrutiny and inclusive participation from all sectors of society to ensure a robust and effective final law.
This legislative process was initiated on Thursday, October 22, 2025, when President Joseph Boakai formally transmitted the bill to the House of Representatives. In his communication, the President stated that the legislation “arises from our national obligation to protect the dignity, rights, and health of all Liberians, particularly women and children, who remain vulnerable to practices that have long undermined their well-being.”
The proposed law represents a decisive shift in strategy. It explicitly criminalizes female circumcision and child marriage, establishing clear penalties for violations and provisions for victim support. This move towards explicit criminalization answers years of advocacy from groups like AFELL and CHI, who argued that non-binding “soft-law measures” had proven ineffective.
Acknowledging the profound cultural sensitivities, the bill introduces a six-month transitional period dedicated to “broad-based education and community dialogue.” This includes public awareness campaigns and direct engagement with traditional leaders, an approach designed to foster understanding and secure compliance rather than relying solely on punitive measures.
The current push for a law comes against a backdrop of decades of failed attempts and stalled campaigns, often met with significant cultural and political resistance. A previous three-year ban enacted by the prior administration was frequently violated, with numerous reports of bush schools operating with impunity.
Even after that ban expired in February of this year, the government has struggled to enforce its moratorium. The Ministry of Internal Affairs placed a suspension on all cultural practices, including the Sande and Poro societies, from April 30, 2025, to January 2026. Despite this, reports continue to surface about the clandestine operation of bush schools across the country, underscoring the critical need for a clear and enforceable statute.
Liberia’s position as one of the few West African nations without a specific law against FGM has increasingly become a point of international and domestic criticism, adding pressure on the legislature to act. Following the initial reading and debate, the House Plenary forwarded the bill to the coalition of key committees for in-depth scrutiny, granting them a three-week mandate to review the instrument and advise the full body.
The conclusion of the two-day consultation marks the near-end of this committee-level phase. In her closing remarks, Hon. Briggs-Mensah extended gratitude to her colleagues, CSOs, rural women representatives, and international partners including ActionAid Liberia and UN Women for their active participation.
