_Shellmingo, Bo, Southern,Tuesday 6 February 2024_ On the commemoration of the United Nations’ International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), Hannah Fatmata Yambasu, women’s advocate and founder of the organization Women Against Violence and Exploitation in Society (WAVES) Sierra Leone, is demanding government action after the deaths of more girls from the traditional practice this year.
“Today is February 6, a day the UN declared as Zero Tolerance of FGM/C. In Sierra Leone, we are mourning the death of girls who died this year and past years through this act of human violation,” said Hannah Fatmata Yambasu, Founder and Director of WAVES-SL, a national advocacy organization.
Madam Hannah Yambasu pointed out that the government mobilizes funds to commemorate International Women’s Day while ignoring the UN’s Zero Tolerance Day.
“May I remind the government that those innocent girls and women who have died due to FGM, their blood will continue to cry for vengeance,” she said.
Experts estimate that nearly 90 percent of girls in Sierra Leone are subjected to FGM as part of traditional initiation into womanhood. The practice, which often takes place during adolescence, can cause severe bleeding, infection, and complications during childbirth.
“We have lost precious souls through this practice,” Yambasu said. “On behalf of WAVES-SL, I am calling on all youths, adolescent girls and boys, concerned mothers and fathers to demand government and politicians to criminalize the practice of FGM.”
Advocates argue there are alternatives that allow ethnic groups to maintain traditions without putting the health of girls and women at risk.
Madam Yambasu added: “There are other better ways to maintain our culture.”
