-At Anti-FGM Event
By Jerromie S. Walters
Monrovia, Liberia – Chief Arthur Dowah, the Chairman of the Council of Chiefs of Liberia, previously the National Council of Chiefs and Elders of Liberia (NACCEL) of Liberia was made to abruptly quit his remark at the observance of this year’s International Day of Zero Tolerance for female genital mutilation (FGM), after he openly made awkward statements toward a group of women’s rights defenders, for claiming that the women of Liberia are unprotected.
The women’s rights advocates are basically from different civil society organizations and professions. The phrase “We are unprotected” first came about in 2022 when they led an anti-rape protest up Capitol Hill, in a bid to call the government’s attention to the alarming rates of violence against women, especially rape at the time.
During the event on Thursday, Mrs. Naomi Tulay-Solanke, speaking on behalf of the women’s rights advocates, condemned the practice of FGM and emphasized the urgent need for collective action to eradicate it. She highlighted how FGM continues to leave young women and girls vulnerable and unprotected. However, Chief Dowah’s response to these concerns drew criticism.
When called upon to speak on behalf of the Council of Chiefs, Chief Dowah reacted dismissively, stating: “When you want to train somebody, tell the person how to dress in the street. But today, the girls you people are talking about, we (traditional leaders) are the ones that are telling them what they are doing is wrong. I saw some people standing here saying they are not protected. You are not protected because you don’t have a special man to live with. Be with somebody special. Respect your husband. When you respect your husband, your husband will protect you.”
His comments were perceived as dismissive of the women’s rights movement, which prompted discomfort among attendees. Some women appeared visibly upset by his remarks. As this became more seeable, Chief Dowah was asked to conclude his statement. He ended by saying, “Alright, my minister is telling me to stop. Ok, I will listen to you. Minister, I will stop right there.”
Chief Dowah, who assumed the role of Chairman after a competitive election last year, succeeded Chief Zanzan Karwor. Unlike his predecessor, who worked closely with international partners to implement a three-year ban on FGM and other progressive measures, Chief Dowah’s leadership appears to be taking a different direction. His tenure, mandated by the Local Government Act of 2018, lasts two years.
Criticism for progress:
In his remarks earlier, Chief Dowah also criticized the functionality of heritage centers built by international partners to support women and girls. He questioned the effectiveness of these centers, stating, “You who are talking about the women are not protected, the centers they built for those women in those counties, what are they doing there? Nothing there!” He further elaborated, “They are not putting effort. Is it right when your child gets something like my phone here, if the phone is not good, you want to take it from me, give me something that I will hold on. You don’t give me anything but you say I should leave my phone? Why? What I will hold on? You get those centers, you don’t put anything there, you build those centers to train our women and girls, no training there, then you are talking about different things.”
Additionally, Chief Dowah expressed his disapproval of modern women’s fashion, stating, “Today, what I want the Gender Ministry to know is that our women, their dressing today is ugly. It’s ugly! You can see girls today, the girls you people are talking about, their trousers are under their butt. You can’t talk about it? The other women who are using long trousers down to their ankles, it’s better than the ones that can be way up here. You can’t talk about that?”
Despite the controversy, Chief Dowah called on the Ministry of Gender to ensure the functionality of the heritage centers, emphasizing their potential to empower women and girls. “Today is one of the best days for us. What we are here to discuss, many people have been saying it. We want to say the organizers of this program, they are doing well, but they don’t see the main thing that is happening in this world, but I’m coming to tell them some of the wrong things that are happening. Go to those counties that the [Gender Ministry] built places (heritage centers) for.”
The incident has sparked debate about the role of traditional leaders in the fight against FGM and gender-based violence. While some view Chief Dowah’s comments as a setback for women’s rights, others see it as an opportunity to engage in deeper dialogue about the cultural and societal challenges facing Liberia’s women and girls. As the nation continues its efforts to eliminate FGM and protect women’s rights, the need for inclusive and respectful discourse remains paramount.
FGM Fight
Liberia committed to ending FGM during the Generation Equality Forum in Paris in 2021, pledging to combat Gender-Based Violence. Despite this, Liberia lacks a law criminalizing FGM, even after signing international human rights instruments condemning the practice.
The proposed FGM bill, titled the ‘Act Prohibiting Female Genital Mutilation of 2022,’ awaits legislative action. On February 6, 2024, traditional zoes in Lofa County pledged to adopt positive traditional practices, closing bush schools and returning sande-related materials to Chief Zanzan Karwor.
In February 2022, the National Council of Chiefs and Elders of Liberia, alongside the government, announced a permanent ban on FGM. Since then, traditional ceremonies to enforce the ban have been held in five counties: Montserrado, Grand Cape Mount, Nimba, Bong, and Lofa. As the ban concludes this month, Liberia joined the global community in observing the International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM on Thursday, February 6, 2025, at the Invincible Sports Park in Fish Market, Sinkor.
