By Precious D. Freeman
An official at ActionAid is recommending steps in ending old traditional practices permanently particularly buttressing the many calls for traditional leaders to stop the practice of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in Liberia.
The Program Coordinator for ActionAid Liberia, Gloria D. Yaney, revealed that most of the groups that advocate for the abolition of FGM are all in Montserrado suggesting that in order to disabuse the minds of those in the various counties who see nothing damaging about FGM because that has become their normal way of life, the effects of this harmful traditional practice must spread out into rural communities.
She made the remark on the observance of the International Day of Zero Tolerance to FGM in collaboration with the National Working Group against FGM, the West Point Women For Health and Development and the SRHR Network.
According to her, while the NGOs and other advocacy organizations are helping in the fight, the government should also be supportive and help in the fight in order to stop the practices.
Madam Yaney also added that while the NGOs, ActionAid and other international partners are being supportive of the fight against FGM in Liberia, they should also continue to talk, teach, train, and share experiences so that this information circulates nationwide.
“Most of us that have advocated against these traditional practices have tried but we still have a lot to do; this is a global, national and Liberia’s fight, so we need to engage on national level by bringing in the Representatives and Senators to join us in the fight,” she maintained.
Explaining the gains made over the years, the Executive Director for West-Point Women For Health and Development Organization (WPWHDO), Nelly S. Cooper, highlighted the breaking of silence on public dialogue on FGM, the drafting of an anti-FGM bill, edurance of June 25, 2019 policy statement suspending FGM for one year as well as sustaining cordial coexistence between the National Traditional Councils of Chiefs and Elders, among others.
According to her, in 2010, WPWHDO’s partnership with Women Solidarity Incorporated (WOSI), Women Passion, Young Women, Christain Association of Liberia (YWCA), Women in Peace Building Network of Liberia and other organizations came as a result of an idea of forming a consortium of the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL).
She added that the idea was accepted by the CSOs and the FGM working group initially of 16 members was formed and a leadership election held which elected the organizations with different posts.
“Cognizant of the fact that FGM practices had been condemned worldwide as the fundamental violation of women’s human rights, the establishment of the FGM working group further reinforced the government strategy within the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of Information and the Ministry of Gender among others.
Meanwhile the Chairperson for the National Working Group Against Female Mutilation (NAWOGA), Phyllis Nyunma Kimba, mentioned that she understands the pains that many women and girls like herself are undergoing and as such, she will not rest until FGM is aborted.
ActionAid is a global federation working for a world free from poverty and injustice. Its work falls into four broad areas: women, politics and economics, land and climate, and emergencies.
ActionAid International’s particular focus is on women’s rights which are a thread that runs through all of its work while ActionAid Liberia is working with civil society organizations and the Government of Liberia to end poverty.
As one of the leading organizations in Liberia on women’s rights and gender equality with government and community recognition, ActionAid is clear on how to combat all forms of violence against women, including the practice of female genital mutilation, which still affects 200 million people worldwide.