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By Jerromie S. Walters
Early this month, two prominent organizations, the Organization for Women and Children (ORWOCH) and the Community Healthcare Initiative (CHI), filed a petition for a writ of habeas corpus against Hannah Tarr, the head of the Traditional Sande Society in Corpus Kpaans Town, and all those under her command and alleged that Tarr and her associates are responsible for the abduction of four young women for alleged offensive behavior. According to the petitioners, the victims were forcibly taken for initiation into the Sande society, a traditional bush society operating illegally in Kpaans Town.
Undoubtedly, many didn’t see this coming, considering the immense efforts that have been made in eliminating FGM in Liberia. In February 2022, the National Council of Chiefs and Elders of Liberia, in collaboration with the Government of Liberia, proclaimed a permanent ban on the
practice of FGM in Liberia.
Since then, traditional ceremonies to effectively enforce the ban on FGM have also been conducted in five out of 11 FGM-practicing counties in Liberia, namely Montserrado, Grand Cape Mount, Nimba, Bong, and Lofa counties. However, traditional leaders have a different opinion on this, contrary to how many have interpreted the news about the forceful initiation of the four young women, amid strives to end harmful practices In Liberia.
Tradition leaders split the bean
Ma. Massah Kandakai, the Head Zoe Of Montserrado County doesn’t seem ok with the recent trend the fight to end FGM in Liberia Is taking. She says her people are resolved to completely halt the practice of FGM but they are still lacking an alternative means of survival. Ma. Massah noted that ending FGM In Liberia will be difficult if the traditional women are not empowered.
“We are doing tailoring now at the place (Heritage Center) but it is not enough for everybody. They want empowerment, let the things come plenty but it’s not coming. The things are small and the people plenty. I want the government to help that everybody should get. I want be bringing them small small to be learning but I don’t have food for them. Some of the distance far, when I called them to come, la (it’s) carpay (transportation), sometimes I can pay their way (transport them) so it will be hard.”
She wants the government to get involved to ensure that sufficient support is given to the women for alternative livelihood programs. “Let the government help so this thing (FGM) can finish one time. Let the other people receive some. It’s good when the international people are doing the thing then the government too put it hand there, at least let the materials be plenty for everybody to learn. To me, it will be alright. Like the country cloth, we can get the old-ma them to be learning.”
She continued, “The bushes are plenty in Montserrado so some of them say the UN people never satisfied them. The people (Zoes) said the people (UN, and government) need to satisfy them. The satisfy means if you tell somebody to leave this one (FGM), tell them to hold this one (Alternative livelihood program), that’s what it means.”
Meanwhile, Chief Zanzan Karwor, the Chairperson of the National Council of Chiefs and Elders of Liberia (NCCEL) acknowledged that alternative livelihoods for traditional women remain the hold on to ending FGM in Liberia, as the women have given him the green light if they can be empowered after they shall have left the practice.
“The thing is in your hand, you build today, and they stop today. The other people say the people have their finished area (Heritage center). When they leave A (FGM) so they can take B (Alternative livelihood program) but how can we leave A (FGM) when we don’t have our finish area (Alternative livelihood program)?” he questioned the international partners and said the government also needs to intervene.
He emphasized, “You’re wasting your own time. You gave it to Paul you will have to give it to Peter. How we will take B when we don’t have our finish area? The day you finish with it (Heritage centers), everything cut off.”
Like Ma. Massah Kandakai, and Chief Zanzan Karwor, Ambassador Juli Endee, the Traditional Queen of the Republic of Liberia, has never held her opinion back on pointing out the intrinsic need for the government of Liberia to get involved with the strive to end female genital mutilation (FGM) in Liberia. She placed specific emphasis on financial support which is apt in providing alternative livelihoods and sustainability of the ban.
It has been made known that economic sustainability is also attached to the traditional reason why traditional women get involved with FGM. At the climax of the practice, it is a custom that they (Zoes) are presented with gifts by the parents of those who were initiated. Because of this, it has been recommended that the Women (Zoes) be economically empowered upon relinquishing the practice.
Amb. Endee: “It’s the government’s responsibility to make sure we ban FGM. The government should support this financially, with resources so that we will be able to ban FGM. Partners are doing their part but the partners will leave so the sustainability aspect of banning FGM is key to this. When we spoke at the UN General Assembly, we said Liberia will be honest, and we will be able to do the banning of all FGM activities in Liberia by rituals.”
CSO
As one of those who have been working directly with traditional women through an ongoing alternative livelihood program, Alfreda Foboi Nmah, the Executive Director of Helping Our People Excel (HOPE-Liberia) says the government’s financial intervention will significantly reflect on ending FGM as she acknowledged that the women have embraced the initiative.
Alfreda: “While donors have initiated some projects for traditional leaders, there is still a long way to go. The government needs to take adequate steps and invest in these centers to ensure sustained progress and functionality. Without proper support, there won’t be any long-term progress. It’s important to have something sustainable for traditional practitioners so they can continue their work and leave a positive impact.”
She stressed, “For example, we have four centers that have been built. These centers are built with donors’ funds, they have a cut-off point. but if the government is not supportive there will only be a temporary remedy.” Alfred believes that for Liberia to end FGM, the government must take the lead in ensuring that the heritage centers are operational, especially now that the traditional women are willing to embrace livelihood skills and let go of the practice of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).
HOPE Inc. Boss says people claim that everything is fine at the local level, but it is merely a facade. In her opinion, the government must provide sustained support for these centers, and it should not be limited to just one center but rather a holistic approach. This, she said requires monitoring progress and supporting empowered women.
In February of this year, HOPE Liberia launched the “Support to Alternative Livelihoods for Former Female Traditional Practitioners, girls, and Young Women Project”. The project is supported by the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office through the British Embassy Near Monrovia. It seeks to provide alternative economic opportunities for former female traditional practitioners, girls, and young women, Unfortunately, the project is only being implemented in 4 of the 11 FGM-practicing countries.
In’l partners unhappy?
The United Nations (UN) Women’s Office in Liberia and other International organizations appear to be unhappy with the recent news about the forceful initiation of young women through the practice of female genital mutilation (FGM). Sources within the system say the donors didn’t see this coming considering the commitment and assurance (s) they have received from the traditional women toward ending FGM in Liberia.
International partners, including the United Nations (UN) Women, have been supportive over the last few years in the fight to eradicate FGM from Liberia. As an implementing partner, UN Women’s commitment has visibly been seen through tangibles from the EU Spotlight Initiative, which funded the construction of heritage centers (Alternative livelihoods) in four of the (11) eleven FGM counties to help get the traditional women off the bushes.
The construction of these centers paved the way for the demonstration of traditional rituals, the turning over of sande-related materials, the closure of bush schools, and the ban in three of the four counties where the centers are. Interestingly, the traditional women of Bong County too became impressed by this development, and voluntarily decided to close the bush schools in the county, with the hope that they too will have a heritage center for alternative livelihoods soon.
Recently, the UK government stepped in with an alternative livelihood program for traditional women. Traditional women in Lofa, Nimba, and Grand Cape Mount County are currently benefiting from the alternative economic opportunities that endeavor to provide educational and skill-building opportunities for girls and young women
This year’s International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), was held under the theme: ‘Her voice. Her future. Investing in Survivor-Led Movements to End Female Genital Mutilation.’ Conspicuously, this year’s International Women’s Day was also held under the global theme: “ “𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐈𝐧 𝐖𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧: 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬” and the national theme “Empower Her, Empower All” on March 8, 2024. Regardless, less investment has been seen from the end of government, especially in ending harmful practices against women and girls.
FGM
Female genital mutilation (FGM) involves the partial or total removal of external female genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons. Globally, more than 200 million girls and women have undergone FGM. In Liberia and other parts of Africa, the practice is attributed to traditional beliefs and sometimes religion. However, it is a violation of human rights, causing irreversible physical and psychological harm to millions of girls and women across various communities.
Liberia signaled its commitment to ending FGM during the global convening of world leaders and women’s rights activists at the Generation Equality Forum in Paris in 2021, where Liberia pledged to pursue efforts to end Gender Based Violence and became a signatory to the collective commitment to eradicating harmful practices, including FGM. Liberia remains one of the three West African countries that do not have a law criminalizing FGM despite having signed and ratified regional and international human rights instruments condemning the practice as a human rights violation, including the Maputo Protocol.
The FGM bill before the national legislature is titled an ‘Act Prohibiting Female Genital Mutilation of 2022.’ In concurrence with the observance of the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), traditional zoes of Lofa County on Tuesday, February 6, 2024, committed themselves to positive traditional practices, following the willful closure of their bush schools and the turning over of all sande-related materials to the Chairman of the National Council of Chiefs and Elders of Liberia, Chief Zanzan Karwor.
Lofa brought to the number five, of the 11 FGM-practicing counties that have performed the traditional rituals, shot down the bush schools, and banned the practice at the Vezela Vocational and Heritage Centre in Lofa County.
Article V (ELIMINATION OF HARMFUL PRACTICES) of the Maputo protocol discourages harmful traditional practices and rallies governments to prohibit and condemn all forms of harmful practices that negatively affect the human rights of women and which are contrary to recognized international standards. “States Parties shall prohibit and condemn all forms of harmful practices which negatively affect the human rights of women and which are contrary to recognized international standards.”
The protocol provides that state Parties shall take all necessary legislative and other measures to eliminate such practices. “Including a) Creation of public awareness in all sectors of society regarding harmful practices through information, formal and informal education and outreach programs; b) Prohibition, through legislative measures backed by sanctions, of all forms of female genital mutilation, scarification, medicalization and para-medicalization of female genital mutilation and all other practices to eradicate them.”
Article V (C) continues: “Provision of necessary support to victims of harmful practices 10 Protocol to the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa through basic services such as health services, legal and judicial support, emotional and psychological counseling as well as vocational training to make them self-supporting; d) Protection of women who are at risk of being subjected to harmful practices or all other forms of violence, abuse, and intolerance.”
