Pujehun Launches New Front in Fight Against Female Genital Mutilation
The Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs, through its Pujehun District Office and with funding support from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), has established a district-level Steering Committee to strengthen efforts to combat Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).
The committee was established on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, as part of ongoing efforts to bring together key stakeholders and community structures to coordinate interventions aimed at preventing FGM and protecting the rights, health and wellbeing of girls and women across Pujehun District.
Speaking on the formation of the committee, Assistant Director of the Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs in Pujehun District, Madam Florence Sandy, said the initiative is intended to improve coordination among stakeholders working to address FGM and other gender and child protection concerns.
According to Sandy, the newly established committee comprises representatives from government institutions, traditional authorities, women’s groups, civil society organisations, Mammy Queens, the Children’s Forum Network, the Inter-Religious Council and other partners involved in gender and child protection.
She stressed that addressing FGM requires collective responsibility, particularly as social and cultural factors continue to influence the practice in some communities.
Sandy explained that the committee will play a key role in strengthening advocacy and community engagement, supporting awareness-raising activities, encouraging dialogue with communities, improving referral mechanisms and promoting the rights and wellbeing of women and girls.
The District Mammy Queen, Madam Mamawa Kaikai, welcomed the establishment of the committee and pledged her support for efforts to reduce FGM in the district.
She called for sustained engagement with traditional leaders, parents, women, young people and other community influencers, noting that continuous dialogue is essential to encouraging positive behavioural change within communities.
Meanwhile, Haja Musu Brima, Public Relations Officer of the Children’s Forum Network in Pujehun District, expressed appreciation to UNFPA and the Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs for establishing the committee.
Brima noted that children are among those directly affected by FGM and expressed hope that the new committee would prioritise the protection and best interests of children while working to prevent the practice.
The establishment of the Steering Committee is expected to strengthen collaboration among stakeholders and provide a more coordinated approach to preventing FGM and protecting girls and women from harmful practices throughout Pujehun District.
The Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs has urged stakeholders, traditional leaders and communities to support the committee and actively participate in efforts to create safer communities where girls and women can live free from harmful practices.