AN OPEN LETTER TO THE GOVERNMENTS OF MALI, SIERRA LEONE, AND LIBERIA – A Time for Action: Protect Our Girls, End Female Genital Mutilation

Dear Governments of Mali, Sierra Leone, and Liberia,

We, the Réseau des Femmes Leaders pour le Développement (RFLD) – Women Leaders Network for Development (RFLD), write to you today with a matter of utmost urgency: the need to enact comprehensive legislation banning female genital mutilation (FGM) in your respective countries.

Silence No More: Time for Legislation

FGM remains a pervasive and harmful practice across West Africa, inflicting physical and psychological trauma on millions of girls and women. The statistics in your countries are staggering. The numbers are alarming, but lives irrevocably altered. Every girl subjected to FGM endures a violation of her bodily autonomy, her health, and her human rights. The practice carries the risk of life-threatening complications, long-term pain, and emotional distress. It perpetuates gender inequality and undermines girls’ ability to reach their full potential. While communities engage in FGM for various reasons, often rooted in harmful cultural traditions, these reasons never justify the permanent harm inflicted on girls.

Legislation against FGM is not an attack on culture; it is a necessary step towards protecting the fundamental rights of girls and women.

We Commend, We Urge, We Stand Ready

We commend your governments for previous efforts to address FGM through different strategies. However, these efforts, while essential, are not enough.

Enacting comprehensive legislation against FGM is the ultimate commitment to protecting girls and women in Mali, Sierra Leone, and Liberia.

Such legislation should:

• Clearly define and criminalize FGM.
• Establish strong enforcement mechanisms.
• Provide support and rehabilitation services for survivors.
• Include education and awareness programs to address the root causes of FGM.

By enacting such legislation, you send a powerful message: that your governments stand with girls and women, that harmful traditions will not be tolerated, and that the future belongs to a generation free from FGM.

We urge you, the governments of Mali, Sierra Leone, and Liberia, to take a bold step towards a brighter future for your girls and women. Enact laws against FGM, invest in their health and well-being, and dismantle the harmful traditions that hold them back.

Let us build a West Africa where all girls are free to thrive, unburdened by the physical and emotional scars of FGM.

The Réseau des Femmes Leaders pour le Développement (RFLD) – Women Leaders Network for Development (RFLD)

NOTE TO EDITORS

The Women Leaders Network for Development – RFLD is a Sub-Saharan African women led organization working to end discrimination, violence against women & girls, and to promote gender equality and human rights. The Women Leaders Network for Development – Réseau des Femmes Leaders pour le Développement (RFLD) is a regional organization based in West Africa that works with over 60 women-led member organizations to promote and protect the rights of youth and women and ensure their participation in decision-making spheres. Operating throughout Sub-Saharan Africa, RFLD boasts an extensive network of CSOs, media partners, and regional networks that allows us to influence the enabling environment for women’s and girls rights.

CONTACT EMAIL : PROGRAMS@RFLGD.ORG