-Between Tradition and Human Rights in Liberia
By Jerromie S. Walters
MONROVIA – A bill to outlaw Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and child marriage in Liberia has ignited a fierce national debate, pitting the urgent calls of human rights activists against the staunch defense of cultural traditionalists, leaving lawmakers to arbitrate a deeply divisive issue.
The proposed “Act to Ban Harmful Cultural Practices in Liberia,” currently before a Joint Legislative Committee, represents the most significant legislative effort to date to end FGM. However, the path to a potential law is proving to be a ideological minefield. The controversy was thrown into sharp relief this week as prominent cultural advocate Madam Marennie Judges Mitchell issued a rebuttal to an anti-FGM campaign led by former Miss Liberia, Wokie Dolo.
Mitchell argues that the international and local discourse around FGM is unfairly one-sided. She contends that the practice, which she refers to as Female Genital Cutting (FGC), is an integral part of the sacred Sande society—the traditional female bush school—and is not the “intentionally cruel” act it is often portrayed to be.
“Our traditional people use this as a strategy for confidentiality, just as the elite societies have means of ensuring all members keep aspects of their fraternities private,” Mitchell asserted. “Requesting lawmakers to ban a way of life that existed long before the emergence of elites is totally unacceptable.”
Her comments strike at the heart of the legislative challenge: how to reconcile universal human rights standards with deeply entrenched cultural sovereignty. Mitchell’s position frames the bill not as a protective measure, but as an elitist imposition threatening to erase a core component of Liberia’s heritage.
A Campaign for “Zero Tolerance” Meets a Wall of Tradition:
This traditionalist pushback comes directly in response to the relentless advocacy of Wokie Dolo, who has been campaigning across 11 of Liberia’s 15 counties where FGM remains prevalent. Dolo’s campaign, backed by global health bodies like the World Health Organization (WHO), maintains a simple, powerful premise: culture cannot justify harm.
“We cannot continue to label something as culture when it inflicts harm,” Dolo has consistently argued, emphasizing the severe physical and psychological trauma associated with FGM. The WHO classifies FGM as a human rights violation, noting that more than 230 million girls and women worldwide have undergone the procedure, which can lead to long-term health complications, childbirth risks, and even death.
For Dolo and her allies, the issue is one of fundamental bodily autonomy and the protection of girls from a practice they cannot consent to. The bill, formally transmitted to the House of Representatives by President Joseph Boakai in October 2025, is built upon this foundation. The President’s communication described the legislation as fulfilling a “national obligation to protect the dignity, rights, and health of all Liberians, particularly women and children.”
A Counter-Proposal: Reform, Don’t Ban
Rather than accepting a full ban, Madam Mitchell has proposed a radical alternative: the state-sanctioned integration of the Sande society into the national framework. Her solution is not preservation of the status quo, but a top-down reform that would modernize the bush school system under government supervision.
Mitchell’s blueprint involves a structured, three-tiered curriculum incorporated into Liberia’s national education system: Class One & Two: Designed for junior and senior high students, these classes would teach a blend of traditional theory and practical life skills, including survival techniques, respect, domestic arts, traditional medicine, and communication, all within a framework of cultural law. Class Three: Reserved for adults aged 35 and above seeking advanced traditional leadership training, this level would mandate the inclusion of medical practitioners to ensure all procedures are conducted safely.
“If any harm or unsafe practice consistently occurs, the government can then take drastic actions, including permanently abolishing it,” Mitchell stated, positioning her plan as a compromise that respects tradition while acknowledging modern health concerns. She further recommended that the government create designated, supervised locations for these reformed bush schools.
Lawmakers at a Crossroads
The Joint Legislative Committee, comprising members from Gender, Judiciary, Internal Affairs, and Health, now bears the immense responsibility of navigating this clash. Having concluded a intensive two-day expert consultation on the draft legislation, the committee is expected to soon validate and submit its report to the full Plenary of the House of Representatives.
The international context adds pressure; Liberia’s status as one of the few West African nations without a specific law against FGM has become a point of growing criticism. Yet, domestically, the influence of traditional leaders and the deep-rooted nature of the Sande society mean that a blunt legislative ban could face significant enforcement challenges and social unrest.
