In the heart of Liberia’s legislative chambers, a historic reckoning is underway. The proposed “Act to Ban Harmful Cultural Practices in Liberia” has ignited a national soul-searching that transcends legal language—it is a confrontation between the sanctity of tradition and the imperatives of human rights. At stake are the bodies and futures of Liberian girls, the authority of ancestral customs, and the moral compass of a nation navigating its place in a modern world.
Culture Cannot Justify Harm
Former Miss Liberia Wokie Dolo’s campaign against Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is not merely a crusade—it is a clarion call for dignity. Her message, echoed by the World Health Organization and countless survivors, is unambiguous: no cultural rite should come at the cost of a child’s health, autonomy, or life. FGM, by any name—be it “cutting” or “initiation”—inflicts irreversible trauma. It is a practice that denies girls the right to consent, to safety, and to a future unshackled by pain.
Dolo’s advocacy across 11 counties is a testament to courage. She is not erasing culture; she is demanding that it evolve. Her stance is not anti-tradition—it is pro-child. And in a country where more than half of women have undergone FGM, her voice is both urgent and necessary.
Tradition on Trial
Yet, the rebuttal from cultural advocate Madam Marennie Judges Mitchell cannot be dismissed. Her defense of the Sande society—Liberia’s revered female bush school—reveals the emotional and spiritual weight of tradition. For many, the Sande is not merely a cultural institution; it is a crucible of identity, womanhood, and communal belonging. Mitchell’s proposal to reform rather than abolish the practice reflects a desire to preserve this heritage while addressing its most harmful elements.
Her vision of a state-regulated, medically supervised bush school integrated into the national education system is bold. It acknowledges the need for change without surrendering cultural agency. But it also raises difficult questions: Can a practice rooted in secrecy and bodily alteration be sanitized? Can the state truly regulate what has long thrived in the shadows?
The Lawmakers’ Burden
The Joint Legislative Committee now stands at a moral and political crossroads. Their decision will reverberate far beyond Capitol Hill. Internationally, Liberia faces mounting pressure to align with global human rights norms. Domestically, the path is strewn with complexity—traditional leaders wield immense influence, and any misstep could provoke unrest or deepen societal divides.
But leadership is not the art of pleasing all sides. It is the courage to protect the vulnerable, even when doing so is unpopular. The proposed bill is not an attack on culture—it is a defense of children. It does not seek to erase the Sande society, but to ensure that no girl is harmed in its name.
A Path Forward
Liberia needs not choose between heritage and humanity. But it must choose to prioritize the rights and safety of its citizens—especially those too young to speak for themselves. The way forward may lie in dialogue, in transitional frameworks, in community-led reform. But it must begin with a clear, unequivocal stance: that no tradition, however sacred, can justify the violation of a child’s body.
This is Liberia’s moment to lead—not just in the region, but on the world stage. The question is not whether the nation can afford to act. It is whether it can afford not to.
