STATEMENT FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF WAVES-SL
FGM practice in Sierra Leone is encouraged and supported by politicians for their ambitious desires to gain votes during elections. It is so unfortunate that they do not have campaign messages that can convince the uneducated individuals in the rural communities.
They take advantage over the disadvantaged rural community people especially women to blind them with cheap support for FGM/C.
Ironically, after these so-called politicians have won the elections; they immediately turn their backs from their electorates for the period of their term in parliament.
This is a country where a sitting President have said openly that banning FGM is a political suicide.
The recent Child Right Act of 2025 is a testament that there is a strong political power supporting FGM/C practice in Sierra Leone. There is no law in Sierra Leone that criminalize FGM/C.
Hundreds of girls underwent FGM/C all over the country – there are pictorial evidence.
As an Anti-FGM/C activist and with like-minded colleagues we will not give up, we will continue to engage and educate our communities on the harmful effect of FGM/C. With the Alternative Rite of Passage strategy, we are sure of a radical reduction on FGM/C practice in Sierra Leone.
As we commemorate this day in Sierra Leone there more girls been held in the Bondo bush (shrines) this is a serious concern for us as activists where the future of girls is being mortgaged. There is nothing like consent, women and girls are being pressured by peer groups, family members, communities and the most disheartening one is in some nursing and midwifery schools in Sierra Leone where they support the practice of FGM/C. This is threatening the global call for women and girls’ empowerment.
