Stolen childhood, stolen health: The brutal practice of FGM scars communities across Sierra Leone and Liberia, demanding urgent action to protect girls and build a future free from this harmful tradition

Female genital mutilation (FGM) is any procedure performed on the external female genitalia for non-medical purposes. They are classified into four types, according to the severity of the procedure:

• Mutilation: partial or total removal of the clitoris and labia minora.
• Infibulation: cutting followed by suturing of the labia majora, leaving only a small opening for the flow of urine and menstrual blood.
• Partial mutilation: partial removal of the clitoris and labia minora, without suturing of the labia majora.
• Other: any other mutilatory procedure on the external female genitalia.

FGM is an age-old practice that persists in many parts of the world, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. In Sierra Leone and Liberia, FGM is practiced in most communities, regardless of ethnic or religious affiliation.

FGM is practiced for a variety of reasons:

• Cultural reasons: FGM is often seen as a rite of passage to adulthood, a prerequisite for marriage, or a way of ensuring girls’ virginity.
• Religious reasons: some religions, such as Islam, tolerate or encourage FGM.
• Medical reasons: some people believe that FGM protects women from infection or sexually transmitted diseases.

The causes of FGM are complex and multifactorial. They include Social and cultural norms that value cut girls and women help perpetuate the practice of FGM.

1. Ignorance: many people, especially parents and caregivers, are unaware of the risks and consequences of FGM.
2. Poverty: poverty can lead families to consider FGM as a way of securing the marriage of their daughters.

World Bank FGM Stat Rate in Liberia and Sierra Leone: https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SH.STA.FGMS.ZS?locations=LR-SL

Laws

In Sierra Leone and Liberia, there are no specific laws prohibiting FGM. However, both countries have ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and The Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa, better known as the Maputo Protocol, which prohibits FGM.

FGM has serious consequences for the physical and mental health of women and girls. Immediate complications of FGM can include:

• Excessive bleeding
• Infections
• Pain
• Difficulty urinating
• Difficulty having sexual relations
• Pregnancy and childbirth problems
• Impaired mental health

Survivors

FGM survivors often face many challenges, including:

• Physical pain
• Health problems
• Psychological problems
• Social stigma

Ineffective prosecution is a major obstacle to the fight against FGM in Sierra Leone and Liberia. Existing laws on sexual violence are often poorly enforced, and perpetrators of FGM are rarely punished. Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) working to combat FGM in Sierra Leone and Liberia are often faced with a lack of resources. This lack of resources prevents them from conducting effective awareness campaigns and providing support to survivors.

• Why does FGM persist in Sierra Leone and Liberia?

FGM persists in Sierra Leone and Liberia for a number of reasons, including:

• The persistence of social and cultural norms that value cut girls and women
• Ignorance of the risks and consequences of FGM
• poverty
• Ineffective prosecution
• Lack of NGO resources

Recommendations

To effectively combat FGM in Sierra Leone and Liberia, a range of measures are needed, including:

1. Strengthen existing laws
   Existing laws on FGM in Sierra Leone and Liberia need to be strengthened to ensure that perpetrators of FGM are punished more severely. The laws also need to be enforced more effectively, to deter people from engaging in the practice.
2. Awareness-raising campaigns are needed to inform the public about the risks and consequences of FGM. These campaigns should target communities where FGM is practiced, as well as parents and caregivers.
3. Offer support to survivors
   Survivors of FGM must have access to support services, such as psychological, legal and financial support. These services must enable them to rebuild their lives and live full and fulfilling lives.
4. Promoting gender equality
   Promoting gender equality is essential in the fight against FGM. Women and girls must be considered equal to men, and have the same rights and opportunities.

The Réseau des Femmes Leaders pour le Développement (RFLD) is a non-governmental organization (NGO) working to promote gender equality and women’s rights in West Africa. In Sierra Leone and Liberia, RFLD is working to combat female genital mutilation (FGM). On a regional level, RFLD runs awareness-raising campaigns on FGM and offers support to survivors. The organization also works to strengthen the capacities of national NGOs combating FGM.

At country level, RFLD carries out activities in both Sierra Leone and Liberia.

1. These activities include:
   RFLD organizes awareness campaigns to inform the public about the risks and consequences of FGM. These campaigns target communities where FGM is practiced, as well as parents and caregivers.
2. RFLD provides support for FGM survivors, including psychological, legal and financial support.
3. Advocacy: RFLD lobbies the authorities to strengthen laws and protection for survivors.

Challenges facing the RFLD

RFLD faces a number of challenges in its work against FGM in Sierra Leone and Liberia. These include:

1. The persistence of social and cultural norms: social and cultural norms that value cut girls and women help perpetuate the practice of FGM.
   – Lack of resources for NGOs: NGOs working against FGM are often faced with a lack of resources.

Despite these challenges, RFLD is determined to continue its work against FGM in Sierra Leone and Liberia. The organization hopes that its work will contribute to reducing the prevalence of FGM in these two countries. RFLD is determined to continue its work against FGM in Sierra Leone and Liberia. The organization hopes that its work will contribute to reducing the prevalence of FGM in these two countries. RFLD has identified the following areas as priorities for its work against FGM:

• Education and awareness-raising: the RFLD will continue to run awareness-raising campaigns to inform the public about the risks and consequences of FGM. The organization will strive to reach communities where FGM is practiced, as well as parents and caregivers.
• RFLD will work to strengthen the capacities of national NGOs fighting against FGM. The organization will provide training on best practices in the fight against FGM.
• RFLD will lobby authorities to strengthen laws and protection for survivors. The organization will work to ensure that perpetrators of FGM are punished more severely.