-As they turnover FGM materials in tearful joy
By Jerromie S. Walters
Friday, October 20, 2023, was memorable and heartburning for traditional women in Gbaota, a far-famed sande locality in Bong County, especially when scores of them lamented the agony of abandoning Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)- a dreadfultraditional practice which they have upheld for decades.
Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is a harmful traditional practice that has dozens of effects on females who undergo it. But for the traditional women- it is a long-standing tradition that has existed for centuries. Considering that this is a practice that women who are already in their 80s met their forefathers in, it hurts being advised to perpetually disassociate from it, as they see it as a custom and tradition that must live on.
Unfortunately, this ideology (FGM a tradition) has been respectfully disproven by the valid fact that the practice actually has some demeaning consequences on women.
With a sense of cultural dignity and as done in several other FGM countries – Liberia’s international partners like UN Women, the Swedish Embassy, the European Union (EU), amongst others- have been doing all they can, jointly with the government of Liberia to effectuate the initiation without mutilation method which has been accepted by few counties. It was again heightened by the traditional women of Bong County over the weekend- as they officially turnover all FGM related materials to the National Council of Chiefs and Elders of Liberia (NCCEL) and committed themselves to positive traditional practices.
While they formally and traditionally turned over the FGM materials to the Council of Chiefs and Elders- Madam Esther Walker, the superintendent of Bong County led the process. The traditional women confirmed that they are resolved as they have been told about the consequences of their actions. They have agreed to the government and its partners’ proposal and recommendations. “Bong County has spoken, we have accepted it,” Madam Esther Walker noted.
As the traditional women fell in tears following the ritual- she cuddled them, “Development comes with pain and tears, after the pain then we will smile”. As scores of the traditional women have attributed their involvement in the practices to its economic gains, she’s confident that following their decision to let go of it, the women of the area will be empowered by the UN.
Moreover, as an alternative program/initiative remains of essence to the women, she assured to ensure that it is captured in their (Bong) next county sitting, for onward submission to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Office of the President.
Placed in a traditional shield and wrapped up with white garbs separately, the women, through Bong County superintendent, Madam Esther Walker, turnover the materials to the Council of Chiefs and Elders of Liberia (NCCEL). In the absence of the Council’s Chair, Chief Zanzan Karwor- the women’s materials were received by other officials of NCCEL, who promised to extend their commitment to Chief Karwor.
Bong County joins Montserrado and Grand Cape Mount which have broken the FGM bushes, demonstrated the traditional ritual and committed themselves to the ban placed on female genital mutilation (FGM) by the Chairperson of the National Council of Chiefs and Elders of Liberia (NCCEL) in February of 2023.
On 6 February 2023, at an event held in Sonkay Town to commemorate International Day of Zero Tolerance on Female Genital Mutilation, Chief Zanzan Karwor officially declared that the practice of FGM was banned forever in all 15 counties of Liberia. However, he made it clear that to adequately notify traditional leaders and implement strict cultural measures for long-term enforcement of the ban on FGM, formal traditional ritual ceremonies had to take place in the 11 FGM-practicing counties.
Consistent with this- the traditional women, officials of government, members of the Council of Chiefs and Elders, UN Women, the Embassy of Sweden and tens of other Liberians assembled in Gbaota, Bong County, to acknowledge and commit themselves to the ban.
Conspicuously- Madam Comfort Lamptey, UN Women Liberia Country Representative- says the Change the women are seeking in the tradition is not just unique to them, but their children (girls) and the country. “Believe me, you are in the right side of history,” she tells them.
Despite the fact that the ritual has only been done in Montserrado, Grand Cape Mount and Bong- she believes it has an effect across and beyond Liberia.
Like the women said- she sees it as a disarmament. With this, the UN Women Country Representative venerated the traditional women for their decision. She says the extension of the endeavor to Bong County was prompted by a commitment by the County Superintendent some months ago.
Madam Comfort Lamptey further admonished women of counties that have the heritage centers, to make the most significant use of it, specifically through the use of positive traditional practices, considering the initiation without mutilation methods.
“Please help us to show that these centers really are makingdifference and we will continue to ensure that investment in women that have abandoned harmful traditional practices continues and included in the national budget. She acknowledges that UN Women believes in empowering them and seeing them taking on positive steps. “Thank you for making history today and count on our continued partnership.
Like UN Women and the European Union (EU) in general- the Swedish government has been steadfast in the quest to end FGM in Liberia. At Friday’s occasion in Bong County- the Swedish Ambassador to Liberia, Urban Sjostrom, congratulated the women of Bong for committing themselves to the perpetuate ban on FGM, and the practice of harmless traditional practices.
As they have always done, he says Sweden is eager to continue its support and partnership with Liberia and they are excited to be a partner in said quest.
Earlier at the occasion- Amb. Juli Endee, the Executive Director of the Liberia Crusaders for Peace and one of the committed campaigners in the quest to end FGM- clarified that the intervention by the government and her partners is not prompted by a motive to disconnect Liberians from their tradition, but to ensure that the harmful aspect is eradicated. This, she says is respectfully and traditional being ensured through the Initiation without mutilation method.
Amb. Juli Endee thanked the government’s entities and its international partners that have aided the process to end FGM in Liberia. She believes it couldn’t be where it is today without their involvement. As a member of the sande society- Amb. Endee sees it as a very difficult task for a traditional person to join the fight to end FGM. However, considering that they committed themselves to it through a written document (s), she says it remains a responsibility upon them to ensure that it is achieved.
“For FGM, it is completely banned.” However, she says the ongoing exercise is meant to cement the initial commitment. According to her, it is compulsory upon everyone, including traditional people to live by their words and it is from this backdrop they are doing all they can to ensure that their previous commitment is adhere to.
She clarified that there are different kinds of sande, and the Kpoa sande does not practice FGM but rather regular (harmless) traditional practices. Therefore- she wants Liberians be aware. The traditional Queen admonished the traditional people for their commitment to the endeavor- and assured that they will be rewarded for their decision. Like some women in the counties that have done the ritual, she says they had no regret doing so and the women of Bong won’t also have any regret.
However, she says it can only be achieved with their commitment to adhere to the agreement and make use of the area (Demolished bush-school) through decent traditional and agricultural activities. This, she says will help in making them remembered for their decision years to come.
Elaborating his position on the women’s decision- Gbaota’sParamount Chief, Jimmie Kollie- described it as a traditional disarmament, and questioned the aftermath of Friday’s decision.
He applauded the traditional women, members of the Council of Chiefs and Elders, the government and its partners for the steps toward the elimination of FGM in Liberia. Acknowledging the importance of the initiative, Gbaota Paramount Chief, Jimmie Kollie assured the traditional women that it is in their best interest.
In response to Chief Jimmie Kollie’s concern, the Traditional Queen, Amb. Juli Endee, says like FGM, anything that is against the will of people cannot be paid for. However, she maintains that the traditional practice (s) will continue, but in the right way.
Accordingly, she says the decision is not for self, but for the country, and one that will display a positive picture in the outside world, which will lead to safe children and their desire for education. “You are doing it for the children of Liberia.” As they have done in other areas like Montserrado, Nimba, Cape Mount and Lofa through the construction of heritage centers, she says it will be replicated in Bong County.
Meanwhile- the Deputy Minister for Administration at the Ministry of Gender, Parleh D. Harris, says the quest to end FGM started years back, but she’s overwhelmed that it’s rapidly being implemented. She acclaimed the Traditional Queen for her commitment to the process and several other initiatives over the years. She also thanked the women and described it as a retirement process. “This day is a day of victory for us. This is a process that we talked about, this is a process that couldn’t have been possible without these women.” With this, she admonished everyone to believe in the potential of women.
On behalf of the Ministry of Gender, she assured the Ministry’s commitment to ensuring that women who have left harmful practices are included in the national budget.
It can be referenced that following Sonkay Town’s declaration by the Chairperson of the National Council of Chiefs and Elders(NACCEL) and the Government of Liberia on August 4, 2023- conducted the second customary closure ceremonies in Tienii, and finally put an end to the practice of FGM in Grand Cape Mount County. Chief Karwor declared during the Tienii rites that Bong, Nimba, and Lofa counties would be next in line to permanently end the FGM practice.
NACCEL and the Government of Liberia have since February 6, 2023, clarified that the Liberian culture and its values will continue to exist as the principle of “initiation without mutilation” will contribute to preserving the rich Liberian cultural elements through alternative rites of passage of young girls to adulthood, without FGM.
The occasion in Bong County which endeavored to heighten the fight to end FGM in Liberia was funded by the Government of Sweden, the European Union (EU), United Nations, and CSOs of Liberia. UN Women and its partners say they acknowledge the enormous funding and collaboration support provided by the Governments and people of Sweden, the European Union, Liberians at large, and civil society organizations toward our shared goal of ending female genital mutilation in Liberia
Background
FGM is the most widely performed harmful practice, through a secret Sande Society by female zoes; over 1,335 female practitioners with licenses to run bush schools (721) in 11 FGM-practicing counties were identified by the UN.
According to the UN- 52.3% of women who live in rural areas compared to 29.9% of women in urban areas have undergone FGM. Counties in the North have found to be
more practicing FGM: 68.3% in the Northwest and 54.2% in the North Central regions.
Currently, there is no law to criminalize FGM; 3 temporary bans were imposed (1-
year ban through an Executive Order in 2018, a 1-year suspension in 2019
and a 3-year suspension in 2022)
Pundits believe that traditional leaders hold an indirect, yet powerful position of influence in the social, political, and economic decisions.
According to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the prevalence of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in Liberia is estimated to be around 50%.
