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Police in Sierra Leone are actively investigating the heartbreaking deaths of three young girls, Adamsay Sesay (12), Salamatu Jalloh (13), and Kadiatu Bangura (17), who lost their lives during initiation ceremonies involving female genital mutilation (FGM) in the country’s North West province last month.
Reports indicate that Aminata Koroma, the executive secretary of the Forum Against Harmful Practices (FAHP), an organization dedicated to ending FGM in Sierra Leone, confirmed the involvement of the girls’ parents and the practitioners responsible for the procedures, who are currently in police custody.
Despite global efforts to eradicate FGM, the brutal practice is still legal in Sierra Leone. Activists, including FAHP, are advocating for legislation criminalizing FGM and promoting alternative initiation ceremonies that omit this harmful tradition. FAHP conducted successful FGM-free initiation ceremonies in three districts last year, with plans to extend the initiative to two more districts this year.
Koroma emphasized the positive aspects of Bondo societies, where the FGM procedure is traditionally performed, such as teaching girls about medicinal properties of plants and preserving cultural history. FAHP’s campaign slogan urges a shift towards saying “yes to Bondo, no to cutting.”
Research has shown that the most effective FGM-free ceremonies are those facilitated by the soweis, senior members of the all-women Bondo secret societies. However, challenges persist, as FGM remains a significant source of income for these practitioners, with families spending hundreds of dollars on the three-week-long ceremony.
While optimism exists for a gradual change in people’s attitudes toward FGM, there is recognition that eradicating the practice completely may take time. The tragic deaths of young girls highlight the urgency for government intervention, prompting calls from activists like Divya Srinivasan of Equality Now for immediate action to prevent further deaths and outlaw the practice in Sierra Leone.
Authorities concerne need to take strong action against those sowies,
This will also serves as warning to others, more especially the paramount of selengal chiefdom Bo district,who is in habit of forcing society leaders to initiate by force.
The Whiteman is still succeeding in Africa. They have giving gay relationships all kinds of beautiful names. And even forcing our leaders to accept it .Eventhough the practice is never in any African society. Look at the way, and names given to practice that our greatgand parents has been doing.
The only affect, was a deciphered society. We were born by women that are the leaders of it.
Government should not only focus on the Bondo Society matter, they should also include the Poro practice in the fight as it represents high risks of health problems
This is an act that is persistently killing young girls in Africa 🌍 sierra Leone to be precise. A lot of women are existing without going through this so BODO, but what happens to them? Nothing! Now see how three girls lost their lives in the process of initiation. Activists and government apparatus needs to save lives from this so called BODO society. Pikin dem dea wea nor go pan BODO but den geh training pas som wea go dea. If they want the BODO society not to be eradicated, let them show or tell us who STARTED BODO, the NAME and for which REASON. KINGAROUN ABN CONCEPT…….
The Government responsible, for it and all the members of Parliament continued to contribute and support it.
“The white man has put knife on the thing that held us together and now things have fallen apart”
Our sisters should also tell the white people to stop gay practice …….
[…] Bangura, 17, died following traditional initiation ceremonies in the northwest Kambia District, local media reported last week. The girls’ parents and the practitioners who cut them are in custody, […]
[…] Bangura, 17, died following traditional initiation ceremonies in the northwest Kambia District, local media reported last week. The girls’ parents and the practitioners who cut them are in custody, […]
[…] Bangura, 17, died following traditional initiation ceremonies in the northwest Kambia District, local media reported last week. The girls’ parents and the practitioners who cut them are in custody, […]
[…] Bangura, 17, died following traditional initiation ceremonies in the northwest Kambia District, local media reported last week. The girls’ parents and the practitioners who cut them are in custody, […]
[…] 17, died following conventional initiation ceremonies within the northwest Kambia District, native media reported final week. The women’ mother and father and the practitioners who lower them are in […]