-Say FGM Might Not End Soon… If
By Jerromie S. Walters
Today, it’s not the civil unrest, Ebola, or the COVID-19 pandemic Liberia is troubled by but a deeply rooted harmful traditional practice, female genital mutilation (FGM). Stakeholders believe this harmful tradition requires urgent collective action. The recent International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation was marked by the global theme, “Her voice. Her future. Investing in Survivor-Led Movements to End Female Genital Mutilation.”
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 200 million girls and women alive today have undergone female genital mutilation (FGM) in 30 countries in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. The WHO considers FGM a violation of the human rights of girls and women. Here in Liberia, female genital mutilation (FGM) is practiced in 11 of the 15 counties.
For instance, earlier this month, two organizations, the Organization for Women and Children (ORWOCH) and the Community Healthcare Initiative (CHI), filed a petition for a writ of habeas corpus against Hannah Tarr, head of the Traditional Sande Society in Corpus Kpaans Town. They allege Tarr and her associates abducted four young women for initiation into the Sande society, an illegal traditional bush society in Kpaans Town.
Many were shocked by this report, especially given the significant progress made in combating FGM in Liberia. 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 this ban have also taken place in five out of the eleven counties where FGM is practiced: Montserrado, Grand Cape Mount, Nimba, Bong, and Lofa.
However, stakeholders, including zoes, the Traditional Queen, UN Women, and CSO actors have expressed slightly differing views on the matter, especially in light of the recently forced initiation of the four young women amid ongoing efforts to eradicate harmful practices in Liberia.
Calling for a joint effort
Ma. Massah Kandakai, the Head Zoe of Montserrado County, is concerned about the current trajectory of the FGM fight. She insists her women are committed to ending FGM but lack alternative means of survival. She urges the government and partners to provide support while she continues to engage her women in this effort.
The economic sustainability of traditional women is closely tied to FGM. Parents of initiated girls often present gifts during the ceremonies, reinforcing the need for economic empowerment for women who abandon the practice. This is also helpful to the initiation without mutilation method.
In a phone interview with WomenVoices, the Zoe stated: “We are doing tailoring now at the place (Heritage Center) but it is not enough for everybody. They want empowerment, let the things come plenty but it’s not coming. The things are small and the people plenty. I want the government to help that everybody should get. I want to bring them small small to be learning but I don’t have food for them.”
She emphasizes the need for government involvement to ensure women receive adequate support for alternative livelihoods. “Let the government help so this thing (FGM) can finish one time. Let the other people receive some. It’s good when the international people are doing the thing then the government too put its hand there, at least let the materials be plenty for everybody to learn. To me, it will be alright. Like the country cloth, we can get the old-ma them to be learning.”
Ma. Massah continued, “The bushes are plenty in Montserrado so some of them say the UN people never satisfied them. The people (Zoes) said the people (UN, and government) need to satisfy them. The satisfy means if you tell somebody to leave this one (FGM), tell them to hold this one (Alternative livelihood program), that’s what it means.”
“Eliminating FGM needs multiple and joint efforts”
Madam Comfort Lamptey, UN Women Liberia Country Representative, asserts that eliminating FGM requires collaborative efforts. In a written interview with this paper, Madam Lamptey highlights that government financial support for alternative livelihood programs can significantly impact the fight against FGM in Liberia.
International partners have recognized the essence of supporting alternative means, as seen in various interventions across the country. “The process for eliminating FGM needs multiple and joint efforts,” Madam Lamptey stated. “The government’s intervention with financial support for alternative livelihood programs can help sustain the achievements made by ongoing programs.”
She cited the EU/UN Spotlight Initiative’s alternative livelihood interventions as a model strategy to prevent FGM by encouraging practitioners to seek alternative income sources. “Through the alternative livelihood approach, 800 former practitioners are engaging in alternative sources of income after abandoning the FGM practice,” she noted. This strategy aims to provide employment opportunities for women while reducing reliance on bush schools where FGM is practiced.
Madam Lamptey confirmed UN Women’s positive response to alternative livelihood programs, benefiting over 800 women involved in agriculture, tailoring, and other activities that generate income for their families. She added that other traditional women are also seeking support from UN Women to abandon FGM, indicating a willingness to change among traditional practitioners.
Zanzan and Juli weig in
At an anti-FGM dialogue at Cape Hotel in Monrovia, Chief Zanzan Karwor, Chairperson of the National Council of Chiefs and Elders of Liberia, emphasized that providing alternative livelihoods for traditional women is crucial in ending FGM. At the dialogue which entertained a panel discussion on the health implications of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) to strengthen advocacy for its eradication, Chief Karwor mentioned that traditional women have expressed a desire for empowerment after leaving the practice.
The dialogue was held by the World Health Organization (WHO), UN Women, along with the Ministry of Health and other key partners, on Thursday, April 4, 2024. The NCCEL Chairperson articulated: “The thing is in your hand, you build today, and they stop today,” he stated. “How can we leave A (FGM) when we don’t have our finish area (Alternative livelihood program)?” He called for government intervention to facilitate this transition.
Ambassador Juli Endee, the Cultural Ambassador of the Republic of Liberia, shared similar belief, stating that financial support is essential for sustainable alternatives to FGM. “It’s the government’s responsibility to make sure we ban FGM. The government should support this financially, with resources so that we will be able to ban FGM. Partners are doing their part but the partners will leave so the sustainability aspect of banning FGM is key to this. When we spoke at the UN General Assembly, we said Liberia will be honest, and we will be able to do the banning of all FGM activities in Liberia by rituals,” she narrated while speaking as one of the panelists at the anti-FGM dialogue ..
“Financial intervention is vital for ending FGM”
Alfreda Foboi Nmah, Executive Director of Helping Our People Excel (HOPE-Liberia), emphasized that government financial intervention is vital for ending FGM. In an in person interview with this paper, Nmah acknowledged that women have embraced the initiative but stressed the need for sustained support.
Alfreda: “While donors have initiated some projects for traditional leaders, there is still a long way to go. The government needs to take adequate steps and invest in these centers to ensure sustained progress and functionality. Without proper support, there won’t be any long-term progress. It’s important to have something sustainable for traditional practitioners so they can continue their work and leave a positive impact.”
She stressed, “For example, we have four centers that have been built. These centers are built with donors’ funds, they have a cut-off point. but if the government is not supportive there will only be a temporary remedy.” Alfred believes that for Liberia to end FGM, the government must take the lead in ensuring that the heritage centers are operational, especially now that the traditional women are willing to embrace livelihood skills and let go of the practice of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).
In February of this year, HOPE Liberia launched the “Support to Alternative Livelihoods for Former Female Traditional Practitioners, girls, and Young Women Project”. The project is supported by the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office through the British Embassy Near Monrovia. It seeks to provide alternative economic opportunities for former female traditional practitioners, girls, and young women, Unfortunately, the project is only being implemented in 4 of the 11 FGM-practicing countries.
International Partners’ Concerns
International organizations are reportedly unhappy with recent developments regarding the forced initiation of young women into FGM. Sources indicate that donors were surprised, given the commitments made by traditional women to end FGM.
International partners, including UN Women, have supported efforts to eradicate FGM in Liberia. Through the EU Spotlight Initiative, they funded the construction of heritage centers to provide alternative livelihoods for traditional women.
These centers have facilitated the closure of bush schools and the banning of FGM in several counties. Traditional women in Bong County have also voluntarily closed bush schools, hoping for similar heritage centers.
The UK government has recently initiated an alternative livelihood program for traditional women, benefiting those in Lofa, Nimba, and Grand Cape Mount Counties.
This year’s International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation was marked by the theme: “Her voice. Her future. Investing in Survivor-Led Movements to End Female Genital Mutilation.” This year’s International Women’s Day theme was “Invest In Women: Accelerate Progress” and the national theme was “Empower Her, Empower All.” However, governmental investment in ending harmful practices against women remains lacking.
FGM in Liberia
The World Health Organization (WHO) considers Female genital mutilation (FGM) as all procedures that involve partial or total removal of the external female genitalia, or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons. In Liberia, the practice is often tied to traditional beliefs and sometimes religion, yet it violates human rights and causes irreversible harm.
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.
With Lofa County’s commitment, five of the eleven FGM-practicing counties have now taken steps to ban the practice. The Maputo Protocol calls for the prohibition of harmful practices and mandates governments to take necessary measures for their elimination.
Governments are urged to create awareness and enact laws against FGM while providing support services for victims. The protocol emphasizes the need for education, legal support, and vocational training to empower affected women and girls.
