SEND-SL Country Director Speaks Tough on FGM, GBV

Country Director of SEND Sierra Leone, Joseph Ayamga speak tough against harmful Practices accomplist.

“To the leaders in this room, I say this: your leadership is measured not by the titles you hold but by the lives you uplift. Protecting harmful practices like FGM for political gain is not leadership it is betrayal. You are entrusted with the welfare of this nation, and silence or inaction makes you complicit in this violence.”

Ayamga made this statement during the 16 Days of Activism event organized by SEND Sierra Leone, in partnership with Rainbo Initiative, GoSL, United Voices United Nation among others on Gender-Based Violence, on the theme United Voices, United Actions: Ending Violence Against Women and Girls in Sierra Leone.

He emphasized on the need to eradicate harmful practices like Female Genital Mutilation (FGM and gender-based violence (CBV) among women and girls.

The event which was organized at the Catco International Conference Hall attracted the presence of the Vice President, Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, Minister of Social Welfare, Gender representatives from the Rainbo Initiative, Irish Aid, and the Sierra Leone Association of Non- Governmental Organization (SLANGO) among other.

He acknowledged the strength of survivors, urging them to break the cycle of pain and replace it with hope for future generations. Ayamga called for transformative leadership, community-driven action, and cultural evolution to safeguard the dignity and rights of women and girls.

“Distinguished guests, activists, leaders, and survivors, today we gather to discuss and take action. Violence against women and girls in Sierra Leone is not merely a challenge it is a national crisis. Our collective voices and actions must rise to meet it”, Ayamga continue.

He told the gathering that gender- based violence (GBV) continues to rob countless women and girls of their dignity, health, and potential. He said harmful practices such as Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), child marriage, and domestic abuses thrive in silence, masked as tradition. He averred that no tradition justifies harm and no culture thrives on the suffering of its women, boys, and girls.

Ayamga mentioned each year; thousands of girls and boys endure FGM and other secret society activities, believing it to be the price of belonging. But what they receive is pain that echoes throughout their lives-pain that weakens their bodies, scars their spirits, and stifles their futures.
This is not culture; it is cruelty.

Key points of his statement include . empowering survivors to lead the fight against FGM and harmful practices, using their experiences to inspire change. He said political and community leaders must prioritize the welfare of vulnerable populations and act decisively to protect them.

He said traditions should evolve to honor heritage without causing harm, replacing harmful rites of passage with ones that celebrate life and dignity and education is crucial for breaking cycles of violence and poverty, fostering resilient communities, and enabling national progress.

He said collective action for ending GBV requires unity across genders, generations, and sectors, leveraging technology and social media to amplify efforts.

Ayamga concluded with a call to action, urging participants to move beyond dialogue to tangible change.

He shared an inspiring example of a female leader who once upheld FGM as a cultural identity but now advocates against it, demonstrating the transformative power of education and awareness.

His vision for Sierra Leone is one where every girl and woman is free, safe, and empowered, and traditions reflect compassion, dignity, and progress.