Liberia: National Coalition against Harmful Practices Condemns Adoption and Forced Initiation of Girls into Sande Bush; Calls for Traditional Council's Intervention - FrontPageAfrica

Source: Front Page Africa

Monrovia - The National Coalition against Harmful Practices (NACAHP) has condemned the adoption and forced initiation of girls into the Sande Bush; the traditional school for female where female genital mutilation are practiced.

In statement issued on Monday, NACAHP called on the National Council of Chiefs and Elders of Liberia (NACCEL) to endeavor to rescue adoptees, punish violators and reinforce compliance of the FGM Moratorium.

The statement came after three young women and a baby were rescued after they were allegedly abducted in Marshall for forceful initiation into the Sande Bush.

"The National Coalition against Harmful Practices (NACAHP) condemns in the strongest term the violation of the "Three Years End FGM Moratorium" by some non-law abiding FGM practitioners (Sande zoe), who on April 3, 2024 allegedly abducted four women and girls in Marshall City, Margibi County for mutilation/cutting practices," NACAHP said.

"The National Coalition against Harmful Practices is calling on the National Council of Chiefs and Elders of Liberia (NACCEL) and all Send Practitioners (Zoes) to open their corridors and facilitate the rescue of the alleged adoptees with immediate effects with no preconditions; punish the violators in accordance with the End FGM Moratorium; and reinforce compliance to the same," it added.

Notwithstanding, NACAHP NACCEL for its coordination, collaboration, and cooperation during the dialogue that led to the rescue of another four girls that were abducted on April 12, 2024 in Kakata City, Margibi County for cutting.

The group recalled that On February 4, 2022, NACCEL and heads of Sande practitioners, including FGM practitioners (Zoes) together with Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA), Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MOGCSP), International Partners, and Civil Society Actors convened in Gbarnga city, Bong County and signed the End FGM Moratorium in Liberia, suspending all Sande practices, including female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) for three years (2022-2025).

According to CHAPTERIII, Article11 C of the 1986 Constitution of Liberia, "All persons are equal before the law and are therefore entitled to the equal protection of the law."

The group said as Africa has celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Maputo Protocol which under its Article 5 on Ending Harmful Practices, obligates the 44 state parties including Liberia to end female genital mutilation; it urged the government of Liberia to stay firm and committed to upholding its obligations under this treaty.

"We look to Liberia government under the watchful leadership of His Excellency, President Joseph Nyumah Boakai through the 55 Legislature to continue demonstrating its leadership in the criminalization of FGM by passing an anti-FGM law and for the Government to fulfill its obligations to protect the rights and welfare of women and girls, which entails upholding its commitments under 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 (Maputo Protocol).

In a set of recommendations, the group called on the Government and the Ministry of Justice to impartially uphold the rule of law to demand the immediate release of those four women and girls abducted on April 3, 2024 at Marshell City, Margibi County and ensure that those who partake in, support, or advocate for the abduction face appropriate legal consequences and in accordance with the End FGM Moratorium.

It called for the protection of women and girls rights against the practice of FGM, commit itself to tirelessly raise awareness about the detrimental effects of FGM on women and girls and demand that this practice be replaced with culturally enriching alternatives that respect the dignity and well-being of women and girls.

In addition, it called on all Liberians to stand to join the endeavor to foster a country where the rights and the dignity of every woman and girl are upheld and defended.

About female genital mutilation

FGM is a human rights violation deeply rooted in gender equality and discrimination. It violates various human rights under international and national law, including women's and girls' rights to equality, life, the security of the person, dignity, as well as freedom from discrimination and torture, cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment.

The importance of eliminating FGM is publicly highlighted by the United Nations within Goal 5 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which outlines a blueprint for achieving gender equality and empowerment for all women and girls. Target 5.3 under this goal requires all 193 countries that signed onto the SDGs to take action to "eliminate all harmful practices, such as child, early and forced marriage and female genital mutilation" by 2030.