…. Officially turn over FGM’s materials
By: Jerromie S. Waiters
Following decades of struggle to ensure an end to the awkward practice of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in Montserrado County and Liberia in general, zoes across Montserrado now seem to have a fixed mind, as they have broken their bushes and conspicuously turned over all of their sande-related materials to the National Council of Chiefs and Elders of the Republic of Liberia.
It was a historic scene in Sonkay Town, Todee District, Montserrado County, as members of the Tradition Council, officials of the government, and international partners congregated to witness the closure rituals of the initiation without mutilation on female genital mutilation (FGM) in Liberia.
The initiative, which was implemented by the National Council of Chiefs and Elders of Liberia (NACCEL), in collaboration with the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and UN Women, showcased Zoes from across Montserrado County, who openly assured that they would avoid the practice of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).
The women’s commitment came hours after they themselves broke down their various bushes, which were situated in several parts of Todee District.
As the women officially turned over their loads at the event, the Head of the National Chiefs and Elders Council of Liberia, Chief Zanzan Karwor, appreciated the traditional women for taking the bold step to ensure that the harmful part of the Liberian tradition is completely stopped in the county.
Chief Zanzan Karwor said he’s anticipating that other FGM counties in the country will see the need to do just as the traditional women of Montserrado did in order to ensure the fulfillment of the initiation without mutilation method.
As the women closed down their various bushes and turned over all of their sand-related working tools to Chief Zanzan Karwor at the occasion, he instructed the immediate collection of all of their various licenses.
The Head of the National Chiefs and Elders Council of Liberia further admonished the traditional women to be genuine about their decision, stressing that individuals who might still be involved in it will be investigated and punished according to the law when caught.
At the same time, the proxy speaker of the UN Women Country Director Madam Yemi Falayajo applauded Montserrado County for taking the first step, by willingly deciding to close their various bushes in ending female genital mutilation in the county.
She assured UN Women of its commitment to fight against FGM in Liberia and all other practices that are capable of creating an unconducive atmosphere for women.
Madam Yemi Falayajo said the international body is looking forward to the honest and genuine actualization of the women’s commitment, as the fight against FGM remains one of their greatest quests.
Moreover, the Gender Minister Williameta E. Saydee-Tarr described the women’s decision as a major fulfillment of the country’s quest to end Female Genital Mutilation in Liberia.
She appreciated the traditional women for mustering the courage to stop the practice of FGM in Montserrado County and their commitment to applying the positive aspects of Liberian culture and tradition.
She believes the tradition of Liberia is beautiful, but there’s an intrinsic need for other FGM counties to consider getting rid of the harmful aspects, as the women of Montserrado County did.
The Gender Minister further acclaimed the Head of the Traditional Council for standing strong with the government, UN Women, and all other civil society actors in the fight to end female genital mutilation (FGM) in Liberia.
In addition, the proxy speaker for the Internal Affairs Minister thanked the women of Montserrado County for officially closing their bushes, as he described it as a significant step towards the fight against FGM in Liberia.
He said that if the uniqueness of the Liberian tradition is to be seen, there’s a need to promote the positive aspect.
However, he urged the traditional people to respect those laws they agreed to, ensuring a three-year ban on the harmful practice.
He also hailed UN Women, the Ministry of Gender Children and Social Protection, the Council of Chiefs and Elders of Liberia, and other supporting partners for their continuous support in the fight against female genital mutilation.
For her part, the Head of the Liberia Crusaders for Peace, Queen Juli Endee, emphasized the need for the vision of the UN Women Goodwill Ambassador to Africa on FGM and child marriage, Ms. Jaha Dukereh, to be actualized.
“Jaha’s vision has to be localized, and nobody will succeed if this vision is not localized, and today is evidence that we are working towards the actualization of Jaha’s vision, which says initiation without mutilation,” she said.
She said the President and the Gender Minister are interested in the fulfillment of the vision, and they are working closely with the Ministry of Internal Affairs to ensure that the vision becomes a reality.
Ironically, the Chief of Todee District, Steven Goba, termed the moment a sorrowful but historic one, especially watching the women return their loads and finally doing away with things they did for decades.
He believes that the quest to end FGM in Liberia is important, and as such, he assured Todee District’s support for all meaningful initiatives that the government will desire to undertake, including harmful traditional activities.
He thanked Civil Society Actors and the government of Liberia, for efforts taken towards the fight against Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), and guaranteed the District’s willingness in making sure that the women commitment is kept.
On the other hand, the Head Zoe of Montserrado County, Ma. Massa Kandakai, lauded UN Women, the government, and the Crusaders for Peace for their efforts towards the fight against FGM.
She avoided making crucial comments, as she alluded that those comments will be kept to be made in the presence of the President of the Republic of Liberia, and the Vice President.
Zoe pointed out the need for empowerment for her women, as they have finally decided to end the harmful practices, but reserved further comments till the official program on February 6, 2023.
The traditional council, UN Women, the Ministry of Gender, Internal Affairs, and other international partners are expected to assemble on February 6, 2023, when the Head of the Chiefs and Elders Council of Liberia, Chief Zanzan Kawor, will officially declare an end to female genital mutilation (FGM) in Montserrado County.
Voices of the local women
Conspicuously, zoes and helpers from across Montserrado County, who often accompany the main zoes during the practice of FGM, told this paper that they have made up their minds to forgo the dreadful practice.
Maima Martha, a local zoe of Sonkay, said that though she was being paid by her boss (the main zoe) out of the practice, she has decided to continue her life through gardening, which she’s also good at.
“I agree because they said we should leave it, so we have left it. I’m satisfied, so I will be making my garden and selling the things to get money,” she said.
Moreover, Massa Lamin, a local Zoe of Lower Montserrado County who has also assured her commitment to abstain from the practice of FGM, said she’s convinced that the heritage site constructed for them through the Spot Light Initiative will significantly empower them.
“I left that thing to come here because we will be doing many things here, like learning how to fix traditional clothes, dancing, and singing, and I think this one is alright,” she said.
Massa Lamin recommended the need for the heritage site project to extend to other FGM counties, as she believes that it will empower women and that they will be more interested in it.
The closure ritual
The closure rituals of the initiation without mutilation on female genital mutilation (FGM) in Liberia were implemented by the National Council of Chiefs and Elders of Liberia (NACCEL), in collaboration with the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and UN Women.
It was at this point that the Zoes of Montserrado County finally decided to close all of their bushes and make the most use of the Sonkay Town Heritage Center to practice the positive aspects of Liberian tradition and culture.
The initiative was supported by Ambassador Jaha Dukereh, UN Women’s Goodwill Ambassador for Africa on FGM and Child Marriage, and the Vice President of the Republic of Liberia.
It was held in commemoration of Female Genital Mutilation Day, with a focus on sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), on Friday, January 20, 2023, in Sonkay Town, Todee District, Montserrado County, Liberia.
FGM in Liberia
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.
In Liberia and other parts of Africa, the practice is attributed to traditional belief and sometimes religion.
It is practiced in eleven (11) out of the five (15) counties in Liberia.
The practice has no health benefits for girls and women, as it can also cause severe bleeding, problems urinating, and infections, as well as complications in childbirth and an increased risk of newborn deaths.
Howbeit, 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.
Efforts to end FGM in Liberia
Since the inception of the Weah administration, the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection, along with the Ministry of Internal Affairs, have been working diligently with the traditional chiefs, elders, zoes, UN Women, and other partners to ensure the eradication of FGM.
In February 2022, the National Council of Chiefs and Elders of Liberia, in collaboration with the Government of Liberia, proclaimed a three-year ban on the practice of FGM from 2022 to 2025, but over the past few months, there have also been stories of forceful initiation into the Sande society where FGM is practiced.
In November last year, the UN Women Goodwill Ambassador to Africa on FGM and Child Marriage, Jaha Dukereh, visited Liberia to strengthen efforts aimed at ending Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in Liberia.
Following Ms. Dukereh’s visit, she engaged with various change makers, including government officials, the diplomatic community, traditional leaders, civil society, women’s organizations, and the media.
She also reinforced public knowledge and increased education on the depth, scale, and devastating consequences of FGM and further vowed to be an advocate for Liberia on the global stage if the country was willing to end FGM.
On November 28, 2022, the government’s international partners and officials of the Government of Liberia dedicated a heritage and vocational center for traditional women in Sonkay Town, Todee District, Montserrado County, aimed at providing a better space for the positive aspects of the Liberian tradition to be practiced.
Also on November 23, 2022, UN Women officially launched a vocational and heritage center for traditional women in Ganquoi Town, Nimba County, which was also aimed at ending FGM.
Both the Sonkay Town and the Ganquoi Town, Nimba County Heritage Centers, are two of four vocational and heritage centers established by UN Women under the framework of the European Union and United Nations Spotlight Initiative.
The four centers are expected to provide alternative economic livelihood programs to former traditional practitioners of FGM in Liberia.
