By: Julius Konton
Two Liberian advocacy groups have urged their government to criminalize Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), warning that the continued tolerance of the practice violates national and international human rights laws.
The Association of Female Lawyers of Liberia (AFELL) and the Community Healthcare Initiative (CHI), both members of the Dignity Consortium, delivered their joint appeal before the 85th Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights in The Gambia this week.
The organizations described FGM as a severe human rights abuse that inflicts lasting harm on women and girls.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), FGM involves procedures that intentionally alter or injure female genital organs for non-medical reasons.
“FGM causes irreversible physical and psychological damage, undermines women’s health, disrupts girls’ education, and perpetuates inequality,” the groups said in their statement.
They added that no cultural tradition can justify practices that cause lifelong injury.
AFELL and CHI argued that FGM contravenes Liberia’s Constitution, which guarantees life, liberty, and personal security, as well as international and regional treaties prohibiting torture and degrading treatment including the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
The groups commended President Joseph Nyemah Boakai for his pledge at the 80th United Nations General Assembly to end harmful traditional practices such as FGM.
But they stressed that presidential declarations must be followed by enforceable measures.
“High-level commitments are essential, but they must be translated into law,” they reemphasized.
Citing past decisions of the African Commission, the groups noted that policy statements and soft-law measures are insufficient to protect women and girls, and that explicit criminalization is required.
AFELL and CHI called on the Government of Liberia to act immediately by issuing an Executive Order banning FGM nationwide; and Enacting comprehensive legislation that criminalizes all forms of FGM, ensures prevention, access to justice and remedies for survivors, and funds enforcement and survivor support programs.
They said such measures would bring Liberia in line with its human rights obligations and demonstrate leadership across the region.
The organizations also urged the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights to support their campaign by Pressing the Liberian government to adopt and enforce an immediate FGM ban; Recommending monitoring and reporting mechanisms to ensure compliance and protection for survivors; Providing technical assistance to develop victim-centered and culturally sensitive laws; and Supporting community-based prevention and survivor-care programs.
AFELL and CHI warned that failure to act would perpetuate injustice and undermine Liberia’s global human rights standing.
According to them, with presidential leadership now on record, Liberia has the opportunity to align its laws with its human rights obligations and lead by example in West Africa.
The groups pledged continued collaboration with the African Commission, government institutions, civil society, traditional leaders, and affected communities to promote the protection, healing, and dignity of survivors and to ensure the full eradication of FGM.
The procedure, which involves partial or total removal of external female genitalia, has no health benefits and can lead to severe bleeding, infections, complications in childbirth, and long-term trauma.
AFELL, founded in 1994, advocates for women’s and children’s rights through legal reform and representation.
CHI focuses on women’s health, gender equality, and community empowerment. Both organizations work under the Dignity Consortium, a partnership promoting gender justice and the elimination of harmful practices across Liberia.
