Liberia commemorated the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) with an urgent and passionate call for immediate action to end the harmful practice.
This year’s commemoration was observed under the global theme: “Her Voice, Her Future”, while Liberia adopted a national theme: “Her Voice, Her Future: Let’s Act Now By Ending FGM and Preserving Our Heritage.”
Held at the Invincible Park in Sinkor, the event was a powerful moment bringing together strong voices and commitments from local and international partners, civil society organizations (CSOs), and government representatives, all focused on the common goal of eradicating FGM in Liberia.
In a stirring address, Gender Minister, Gbeme Horace-Kollie emphasized that the time to act is now. “We cannot afford to delay, compromise, or look away,” she stated firmly. Her words resonated deeply as she urged all sectors of society to come together to end the practice of FGM once and for all.
The Minister highlighted that the absence of a comprehensive Anti-FGM law continues to allow this harmful practice to persist. She indicated that without a robust legislation, there will always be a space for violations to occur. “We must work together, government, traditional leaders, lawmakers, and civil society to push for the full enactment of legislation that permanently criminalizes this practice,” she stressed.
The Gender Minister further emphasized the importance of embracing alternative rites of passage that do not involve circumcision. She called for a shift in cultural practices to protect the health and dignity of girls while honoring traditional rites. “By standing together and embracing alternative rites of passage, we will create a future where every girl can thrive,” she declared. She further stressed the importance of ensuring sustainable heritage centers, safe spaces for communities to engage in culture and tradition without harming the health of young girls.
The Minister’s statement underscored the Ministry of Gender’s steadfast commitment to strengthening collaboration with all stakeholders in this fight. She reaffirmed the Ministry’s pledge to work closely with the legislature, United Nations (UN) agencies, and CSOs to ensure that FGM is eradicated from Liberia.
In the coming days, the minister indicated that Gender Ministry will host a high-level dialogues with members of the legislature and key stakeholders to understand the status of the Anti-FGM Bill and advocate for its swift passage.
CSOs and advocacy groups reiterated their demand for legislative action, urging lawmakers to prioritize the passage of an anti-FGM bill. Representatives from prominent women’s rights organizations, such as the Women NGO Secretariat of Liberia (WONGOSOL), the National Working Group Against FGM and We Are Unprotected, another advocacy group, called for increased awareness and community engagement to shift cultural perceptions about the practice as well as legislation to end the practice across Liberia.
Traditional leaders and Zoes representing the National Council of Chiefs and Elders were also present and expressed their willingness to engage in dialogue to find alternative rites of passage that respect cultural heritage without causing harm to young girls.
Additionally, International partners, including the United Nations, Swedish Embassy, ActionAid and UN Women reaffirmed their commitment to supporting Liberia’s fight against FGM. UN Women Country Representative, Madam Comfort Lamptey read a special statement on behalf of UN Secretary General. She used the occasion to call on Government to take renew action. She therefore pledged continued technical and financial support to ensure that FGM is eradicated.
The event served as a reminder that, while significant progress has been made, Liberia’s fight against FGM is far from over. “The time to act is now.”
As Liberia moves forward in this fight, the commitment to ending FGM remains clear. With continued collaboration from all sectors of society, a future free from the harms of FGM is not only possible it is within reach.
