-Closes bush-schools, gets alternative livelihood center
By Jerromie S. Walters
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.
Liberia joined the world on Tuesday to observe the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), under the theme: ‘Her voice. Her future. Investing in Survivor-Led Movements to End Female Genital Mutilation.’ The West African nation’s celebration of the globally recognized day reflected a brighter picture of what it represents or endeavors to address, as Zoe’s, basically those from the highly traditional part of Liberia, Lofa, willingly embraced the initiation without mutilation method:
This year’s commemoration of the International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM was held at the Vezela Vocational and Heritage Centre in Lofa County. At the occasion, Chief Zanzan Karwor, the Chairman of the National Council of Chiefs and Elders of Liberia, hailed the traditional women’s willingness to adhere to the initiation without mutilation method.
As they concluded with this phase, he encouraged them to join him next month in Grand Bassa County, to derive a logical conclusion along with the men, in bringing an end to Female Genital Mutilation in Liberia, through a written commitment that will extend the discussion at the level of the legislature, to ensure that rye anti-FGM bill is passed.
Howbeit, he encouraged the United Nations (UN) and all other international partners to continuously support the endeavor. He believes if FGM is to be eradicated, the traditional women must be empowered. The Head of the National Council of Chiefs and Elders of Liberia further encouraged the traditional people to work with the new administration.
Before his remark, the traditional women used the occasion to close the bush schools. This was followed by the turning over of sande-related materials to Chief Zanzan Karwor, the Chairman of the National Council of Chiefs and Elders of Liberia. As the women of Lofa become the fifth to Montserrado, Bong, Nimba, and Grand Cape Mount (Counties that have closed the bush schools), they are also the fourth among the five counties to be given a modern Heritage Centre. The Heritage Centre is situated in Vezela, Lofa County.
In the statement by UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Natalia Kanem, UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell, OHCHR High Commissioner Volker Türk, UN Women Executive Director Sima Bahous, WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation, Madam Comfort Lamptey, UN Women Resident Representative noted:
“Today, on the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation, we reaffirm our dedication to the girls and women who have been subjected to this grave violation of human rights. Every survivor’s voice is a call to action, and every choice they make in reclaiming their lives contributes to the global movement to end this harmful practice. B“More than 200 million girls and women alive today have undergone female genital mutilation. This year, nearly 4.4 million girls will be at risk of this harmful practice. This equates to more than 12,000 cases every day.
She read- “In keeping with the commitments outlined in the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, those agreed during the 25th Anniversary of the International Conference on Population and Development, Generation Equality, and other normative frameworks including The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women and the Convention on the Rights of the Child and their general recommendations, as well as Sustainable Development Goal target 5.3, we reiterate our commitment to prevent and respond to this harmful practice against women and girls. “Female genital mutilation is a violation of women’s and girls’ rights, one that endangers their physical and mental health and limits their potential to lead healthy and fulfilling lives. It increases their risk of serious pain, bleeding, and infections and the likelihood of other health complications later in life, including risks during childbirth, which can imperil the lives of their newborns.
Madam Lamptey went on by noting:
“That is why, in our pursuit of a world free of discrimination and practices that harm girls and women, it is imperative that we turn our attention to the voices that matter most – the voices of survivors. “We must amplify the voices of survivors to raise awareness and inspire collective action, and promote their power and autonomy by ensuring they have an active role in prevention and response interventions.
The UN believes survivors have first-hand knowledge of the challenges they face and the tools needed to eliminate the practice. With this, they say the world must invest in survivor-led movements, especially at the grassroots level, by dedicating resources that will advance their efforts.
“We also must ensure that comprehensive and culturally sensitive services are available and accessible. This includes strengthening the provision of health care and social and legal services to support survivors. UNFPA and UNICEF, as the lead agencies of the Global Joint Program on Eliminating FGM, OHCHR, UN Women, WHO, and other United Nations entities remain steadfast in partnering with survivors as community champions and leaders and ensuring their voices and perspectives inform programs to prevent and respond to FGM. Indeed, investing in movement-building and promoting girls’ and women’s agency is at the core of the UN Joint Programme on Eliminating FGM.”
In her own words, she lauded the traditional women for mustering the courage to end female genital mutilation. Madam Lamptey applauded the Traditional Council, the former Gender Minister, and her team, as well as all others who have joined the UN in ending FGM in Liberia.
In the overview of the occasion, Liberia’s Culture Ambassador, Juli Endee says FGM is a human rights violation, and Liberians must remain committed to ending it.
She recalled efforts that have been applied by the government and her partners over the last few years, including the permanent ban and the ban that has taken place in four counties across the country. According to her, Liberia has committed itself globally to ending FGM.
Amb. Endee says this commitment is also vividly seen through the construction of heritage centers in several counties across the country. She hailed the UN Women Boss for her dedication to ending FGM in Liberia over the years.
The Traditional Queen rallied Liberians to continue to put the legislature’s feet to the fire, to ensure that the bill banning FGM is passed. In her opinion, the laws reflect their commitment. She says: “We will not relent until the FGM bill is passed in Liberia.” she continues, We will continue to support Initiation Without Mutilation.
From her end, Ms. Kate Thomson, Deputy Head of Mission of the Embassy of the United Kingdom (UK) disclosed a recent commitment of $USD70,000 made to HOPE Liberia, a local NGO, towards providing alternative livelihood opportunities for the traditional women in the four counties where the heritage centers have been erected.
In January of this year, the Charge d’Affaires of the UK in Liberia agreed to a new project with Helping Our People Excel (HOPE), which aims to make #FGM history in Liberia by providing alternative livelihoods for its practitioners & empowering women & girls.
At Tuesday’s occasion, Ms. Kate Thomson
venerated the traditional women for what she considered a difficult decision and also hailed all other institutions that have been committed to the fight against FGM.
In the opening remark, Mr. Ishmael Walker, Senior Liaison Officer, Ministry of Internal Affairs, described the occasion as a significant one and applauded the government partners. “Mainly UN Women, for supporting our traditional women, especially with the center and loans.”
He assured the Ministry’s commitment to previous documents signed toward ending of FGM. “We also want to respect the Sande zoes, so that they can also respect their commitment.”
He tells the traditional women that the government and its partners are not rallying efforts to end all traditional practices, but that particular aspect that violates human rights. He acclaimed the LCP and NCCEL for their efforts toward ensuring that FGM is eradicated from Liberia.
Statistics show that globally, more than 200 million girls and women have undergone FGM, a practice that involves the removal or injury of external female genital organs for non-medical reasons. It is a violation of human rights, causing irreversible physical and psychological harm to millions of girls and women across various communities.
Howbeit, significant progress has been made in eliminating FGM globally and in Liberia. Exactly, a year ago, on 6 February 2023, the National Council of Chiefs and Elders of Liberia (NACCEL), made a historic proclamation to ban the practice of FGM in Liberia. Since then, traditional ceremonies to effectively enforce the ban on FGM have been conducted in four out of 11 FGM-practicing counties in Liberia, namely Montserrado, Grand Cape Mount, Nimba, and Bong counties.
