President Joseph Boakai’s recent pledge at the United Nations to permanently ban Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) marks a historic turning point in Liberia’s journey toward safeguarding the rights of women and girls. But as the applause fades and the headlines shift, the real question emerges: will this promise translate into protection, or become another well-intentioned decree lost in the fog of cultural complexity and political inertia?
FGM is not merely a harmful tradition—it is a deeply entrenched system of control, identity, and survival. The World Health Organization estimates that over 230 million women and girls globally have endured this violation. In Liberia, the practice persists in 11 of 15 counties, often under the radar of national enforcement and in defiance of previous moratoriums. The recent graduation of 500 girls from bush schools in Lofa County—despite a three-year ban—underscores the urgency and fragility of this moment.
President Boakai’s commitment to elevate the moratorium into permanent law, coupled with promises of nationwide dialogue and alternative livelihoods, is commendable. But as Alfreda Foboi Nmah of HOPE rightly cautions, legislation without deep community engagement risks becoming symbolic rather than transformative. Liberia’s past attempts have faltered not due to lack of intent, but due to lack of inclusive strategy.
To succeed, this pledge must be rooted in three pillars:
1. Dialogue Before Decree
The path to eradication begins not in Monrovia’s ministries but in the hearts of rural communities. Traditional leaders, especially Zoes, must be invited into the conversation—not as adversaries, but as partners in change. A national roundtable, county-by-county consultations, and culturally respectful engagement are non-negotiable. Without this, enforcement will be resisted, and the practice will retreat further underground.
2. Livelihoods Over Loss
For many Zoes, FGM is not just tradition—it is income. Criminalizing the practice without offering viable alternatives is both unjust and ineffective. The government must prioritize economic transition programs, vocational training, and microenterprise support for practitioners. Ending FGM must not mean ending livelihoods.
3. Law With Teeth—and Trust
Liberia remains one of only three West African nations without a specific law criminalizing FGM. The draft bill reviewed earlier this year must be finalized, passed, and enforced with clarity. But enforcement must be paired with education. Communities must understand not just the penalties, but the purpose: to protect, not punish. The Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection, alongside civil society coalitions like WONGOSOL, must lead this charge.
This is a defining moment. The President’s pledge aligns with international commitments—from the Maputo Protocol to the Generation Equality Forum. But global promises mean little without local progress. Liberia’s Agenda for Inclusive Development, backed by US$8.3 billion, must now deliver inclusive protection.
Ending FGM is not a sprint—it is a generational relay. The baton has been passed. Now, it must be carried with courage, collaboration, and cultural wisdom. Let this be the moment Liberia moves from pledge to protection, from law to lasting change.
